Plain packages for sugary drinks – health forum speaks

A KEEN AUDIENCE of practitioners and experts in community health gathered in Cairns on 30 May to debate where investment in health should be directed to add the greatest value.

After five most excellent presentations and a roundtable debate, a strong consensus emerged that a levy should be placed upon sugary soft drinks and fruit juices, with the revenue to be spent on personalised health education. Children who consume sweet drinks program their bodies towards lifelong obesity, type II diabetes and a range of other chronic disorders.

The Royal Society is now considering the findings of the forum and is crafting a submission to government arguing that the weight of scientific evidence against allowing children free access to sugary drinks is overwhelming.

Presentations and other papers arising from the event will be posted on our Initiatives webpage as soon as they have been edited for publication. The Cairns Institute has published a report in its regular newsletter.

Extract_Cairns Institute_Newsletter_July2016