Sugar tax raises $5.4m
The sugar tax, imposed on October 1, 2018, collected $5,402,000 by December 1, 2019.The extra duty on sugary foods and drinks, aimed at reducing diabetes and obesity, was raised to 75 per cent in April last year, with the revenue to be used for health and education.The tax details came from Curtis Dickinson, the Minister of Finance, in response to parliamentary questions from Michael Dunkley, an Opposition backbencher, on Friday.Mr Dickinson said the tax’s impact was being assessed, but that early reports had shown “some decrease in the consumption of sugary drinks”.“Proceeds are slated to go towards health and wellness initiatives,” he said, citing moves such as exercise promotion, free health screenings and social media marketing.Mr Dickinson said further details on how the Ministry of Health planned to spend sugar tax proceeds would be revealed in the next Budget on February 21.