How has Chile reduced the consumption of sweetened beverages by 22% in four years?

The Chileans reduced their consumption of sweetened beverages by 21.6% between 2014 and today. A study recently published by the University of Chile indicates as a key aspect the implementation of a law that taxes special taxes on this type of product.

According to Professor Cristóbal Cuadrado -responsible for research carried out in 2,900 households-, a third of the free sugars consumed by Chileans come from soft drinks juice and sweetened waters, which places the South American country among those who ingest the most calories from this type of products. According to official figures, 31.2% of the population suffers from obesity and about 470,000 people (3.2% of the population) suffer from morbid obesity, notes El País.

Cuadrado's expert panel estimates suggest that from 2014 to today each Chilean reduced its consumption of sweetened beverages in 700 milliliters per month ] which means that each person drinks in total 3.5 liters per month in the now . The study did not record significant variation around low-sugar beverages.

The history of the tax hike dates back to 2014, when Michelle Bachelet then President of the Republic, included amendment in the tax reform that it made to finance the free program of the university. At the time, it was known as the Sugar Added Beverage Tax (IABA), a special tax that would have all the soft drinks to which dyes, flavors or sweeteners were added.

With its approval were created two categories : beverages that have 6.25 grams or more of added sugar per 100, who must pay a tax of 18%, and those who have less sugar who pay 10%. Before this law, all sweet drinks paid 13%.

Cuadrado notes that "although it was a small-scale tax it managed to generate a change in household consumption ]] which speaks positively of the potential of this type of measures ". As has been the case in Chile, positive effects of this type of law have been observed in Mexico and in the state of California, United States.

Beyond consumer behavior, the tax had an effect on the industry . In September 2017, the local subsidiary of Coca Cola announced a reduction in the sugar content of two of its flagship products: Sprite and Fanta which left 4, 9 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, that is to say below the bias imposed by law.

Chile has for several years been fighting a battle against food considered unhealthy. A project initiated in the first tenure of Sebastián Piñera (2010-2014) ended with a strict law on food advertising, the implementation of which began under the last Bachelet government. This regulation introduced measures such as the use of warning labels for foods rich in critical nutrients such as calories, sodium, saturated fats and sugar . Since 2016, stamped food can not advertise to children under 14 years of age.

One can not do this age group tie promotions using gifts or contests . The standard presumed the disappearance of mascots like the Tony Tiger that exposed Kellogg's Zucaritas in its containers and it also caused the release of the market of the classic chocolate egg ] Kinder Surprise that in everyone comes with a toy inside, explains El País.

While the measures are still being evaluated, the Food Labeling Law Appeal has entered a new phase in June, since that's the parameters for that one. product be forced to wear a pad have been hardened and it is expected that in the coming months more and more products will wear a black octagon (similar to a stop sign) with the phrase: " Raised in ".