The Taiwan Health Alliance has urged the government to introduce a sugar tax on sweetened beverages, following a new survey that suggests most people would change their drinking habits if given proper warnings and financial incentives, reports Taipei Times.
The survey, conducted through SurveyCake and commissioned by the alliance, found that 92.3 percent of respondents believe high-sugar drinks are unhealthy. However, over 40 percent of those surveyed still consume sugary drinks more than three times a week, according to alliance director Wu Yu-chin.
Wu said the results show a clear need for stronger policies—such as raising prices on sugary drinks while making sugar-free alternatives more affordable—to help reduce sugar consumption across the population.
Chia Shu-li, Deputy Director-General of the Health Promotion Administration, pointed to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which recommend that sugar intake make up less than 10 percent of an adult’s daily calories—roughly 50 grams, based on an average daily intake of 1,800 to 2,000 calories. That’s equivalent to about one and a half bottles of cola or two glasses of orange juice.
However, the average sugar intake in Taiwan is far higher. According to Chia, sugar makes up about 17.3 percent of total daily calories for most Taiwanese, driven in part by high consumption of sweets and hand-shaken beverages like bubble tea. She added that more than half the population—about 50.8 percent—is overweight, underscoring the need for urgent action based on the survey results.
The poll also revealed strong public support for a sugar tax, with 73.8 percent of respondents in favor of the measure, Wu said.
Chen Pei-hung, director of the Dietetics Department at National Taiwan University Hospital, warned that excessive sugar intake is linked to a range of health problems including obesity, heart disease, metabolic issues, and even cancer. She noted that about half of the world’s population lives in places that already enforce some form of sugar tax, and said Taiwan should consider following suit.
In addition to the tax, the survey found that 43.4 percent of people were dissatisfied with the government’s food safety efforts over the past year. When asked about priorities, 34.5 percent said the government should focus more on the origin of food products, while 23.3 percent called for increased inspections.
In response, the Taiwan Health Alliance is calling on the government to improve food safety enforcement, increase checks on food sources, introduce clear labels for high-sugar, high-salt, and high-calorie items, and offer rewards for choosing healthier drinks. The group also reiterated its recommendation that authorities begin seriously considering a sugar tax to improve public health outcomes.
