Press Releases and Publications

PDF of the Press Release

Montreal, February 3, 2010 – The Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems (Weight Coalition) has proposed to the Minister of Finance, in the context of pre-budgetary consultations for 2010-11, the establishment of a special tax on soft drinks and energy drinks. It is one of the concrete recommendations of the Weight Coalition aimed at reducing the financial strain of the current obesity epidemic, and associated chronic illnesses, on public funds, as they are extremely costly.

According to the Director of the Weight Coalition, Suzie Pellerin, the current state of public finances in Quebec does not allow us to ignore the consequences of obesity on our health system. "In 1999, the cost of the obesity epidemic was estimated at $700 million per year. These expenses are likely to increase as the obesity epidemic progresses. This is why it is so important to multiply the signals encouraging people to adopt a healthy lifestyle," she explains.

Soft drinks and energy drinks: the first step
"We are very pleased with the FMSQ’s proposal. It recognizes the obesity epidemic as a major drain on public funds," says Suzie Pellerin. This proposal, however, entails a serious obstacle in terms of application as the term "junk food" is not defined. Applying a fiscal measure to soft drinks and energy drinks is much easier, as these products are clearly defined by regulations and the link between these products and the obesity epidemic has been demonstrated scientifically¹.

Several fiscal models could be applied immediately. According to the data available on the production of sodas and energy drinks, establishing an excise tax of five cents per litre could generate $40 million annually. Another model, that of adding a "health" deposit of one cent similar to the deposit for Recyc-Quebec on beverage containers, could generate close to $13 million per year.

For the Weight Coalition, it is important that any money generated through these means be re-invested in promotional activities aimed at encouraging healthy eating habits and in improving the physical and social environment in order to facilitate a physically active and healthy lifestyle.

"I invite the Ministers of Finance and Revenue to closely examine the possibility of acting immediately in order to send a clear message in favour of healthy choices and to ultimately reduce the costs linked to the obesity epidemic," concludes Suzie Pellerin, Director of the Weight Coalition. The document containing the Weight Coalition’s responses with regard to pre-budgetary consultations, entitled Weight Issues, Chronic Illness and Public Finance, is available at http://bit.ly/7ZtpC1.

About the Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems
Created in 2006 and sponsored by the Association pour la santé publique du Québec since 2008, the Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems is working toward the adoption of specific public policies with regard to weight-related issues. It acts within three strategic areas (agri-food industry, sociocultural and built environment) to foster the development of environments that help in making healthy choices and preventing weight-related issues. For more details: www.cqpp.qc.ca.

                                                                          - 30 -

Source: Amélie Desrosiers
Communications Officer, Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems
Phone: 514 598-8058, extension 233
Cell: 514 475-7431
adesrosiers@cqpp.qc.ca

                                 
¹Bubbling Over: Soda Consumption and Its Link to Obesity in California (September 2009), California Center for Public Health Advocacy.