Canada’s first sugar tax is here, with people in Newfoundland paying 20 cents per litre of pop – By Laura Brehaut (National Post) / Sept 1, 2022
Coupled with their high consumption of sweet drinks, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians drink the least amount of water
With a penchant for regional refreshments like Birch Beer, Pineapple Crush and Purity syrup, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are the greatest consumers of sugary beverages in the country. Now, the government is urging them to rethink their drink choices as the province becomes the first in Canada to implement a soda tax.
Starting Sept. 1, anyone who buys sugar-sweetened beverages including energy drinks, iced teas and pop will pay an extra 20 cents per litre in sales tax. The goal, the government claims, is to reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with excess sugar consumption, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Coupled with their high consumption of sweet drinks, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians drink the least amount of water, explains Rachel Prowse, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University in St. John’s who is leading a study evaluating the sugar-sweetened beverage tax.
