The rate of overweight and obesity among Vietnamese children aged 5-19 surged to 19% in 2020, up from 8.5% a decade earlier. In response, the draft Law on Excise Tax proposes a 10% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to combat this issue.
This topic was discussed during a recent workshop in Hanoi organized by UNICEF Vietnam and the National Assembly Committee for Culture and Education. Experts highlighted that Vietnam’s obesity rate surpasses those of neighboring countries, with projections indicating that nearly two million children could be classified as overweight or obese by 2030 if SSB consumption continues unchecked.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Tuyet Mai from the National Institute of Nutrition cautioned against the health risks associated with prolonged SSB consumption, which can lead to obesity and other serious conditions. Studies indicate that frequent SSB consumption in children raises body mass index (BMI) significantly and increases the risk of obesity by age five.
Dr. Mai recommended stringent limits on sugar intake for children: none for those under two years old and for ages 2-18, no more than 25 grams of sugar or 235ml of SSBs weekly. Despite soft drink consumption in Vietnam rising drastically from 1.59 billion liters in 2009 to 6.67 billion liters in 2023, experts stressed the necessity of an excise tax to reduce both obesity rates and related healthcare costs.
Participants at the workshop largely supported the tax, though some raised questions about the threshold for sugar content included in the tax. Dr. Nguyen Huy Quang noted that while the excise tax proposal was previously stalled due to insufficient evidence, the current data warrants immediate action to protect public health. Currently, 104 countries worldwide impose such taxes on SSBs, including six in ASEAN.