It’s so easy to get caught up in negative chit-chat about the sugar tax.
But, there are actually a bunch of countries doing phenomenal things in terms of health and wellness…
France.
These guys were on the ball, bringing in a tax on sugary beverages back in 2012 that covered all drinks with added sugar and sweetener. This resulted in a noticeably lower soft drink consumption, even within the first five months. They then followed up in 2014 with an energy drinks tax. Go France!
Finland.
When it comes to health, Finland ticks all the boxes! Not only have they supported a sugar tax on confectionery, ice cream and soft drinks, but they boast an internationally acclaimed (and free!) health care system. Their sugar tax has seen positive results, with a significant drop in sales of sugary products and a reduction of national obesity rates.
Hungary.
Way back in 2011, Hungary introduced a tax on all things sweet – soft drinks, syrups, concentrates, energy drinks, confectionary and chocolate – as well as some salty snacks and condiments. After this tax was brought in, a whopping 40 per cent of manufacturers reformulated their products to get rid of sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. Sounds sweet to us!
Mexico.
After bringing in a tax on all sugar-sweetened drinks in 2014, it’s been nothing but sweet success for Mexico as they’ve seen a drop in sales of nearly 10 per cent. Not only that, but sales of bottled water has increased too and studies suggest that this alone could prevent nearly 190,000 cases of diabetes in the next 10 years.
The United Kingdom.
The UK was not only ranked as having the best health care out of 11 first world countries, but they recently announced that from April 2018 they’ll be introducing a sugar tax on sweetened beverages to tackle the rising obesity problem. We can’t wait to follow their journey!
Other honourable mentions go to:
- Sweden for their amazing maternity leave policy. New parents can take 480 days of paid leave (at 80 per cent of their normal pay rate), and that’s on top of mum’s standard 18 weeks! But don’t worry, dad’s don’t miss out with 90 days of paternity leave allocated just to them.
- And, the Netherlands for their work-life balance. Less than one per cent of all employees work long hours, meaning their life satisfaction rate is higher too. Interestingly, the life expectancy in the Netherlands is also above average – perhaps the two go hand-in-hand?
- But if you’re after a little more rest and relaxation, Sri Lanka is the place to be with a whopping 25 public holidays each year! That’s the highest in the world.
Know of any other countries leading the way when it comes to health and wellness? Tell us in the comments below.
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