Why Dubai High Sugar Tax: Dubai has imposed heavy tax on sugary food and drinks under the Health Excise Tax. More sugar means more taxes. Its aim is to reduce obesity, diabetes and motivate people to choose healthy options.
Dubai Sugar Food Tax Rule: Health-friendly policies are becoming increasingly strict in Dubai. In this series, the government has forced people to adopt a healthy lifestyle by imposing heavy tax on sugary foods. The rule is very simple, the more sugar the food contains, the more tax will have to be paid on it. This will have a direct impact on soft drinks, juices, packed food and snacks. This step has been taken not only to increase revenue but also to reduce the risk of rapidly increasing obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Reason for increasing taxes
The Dubai government has imposed a tax of 50% to 100% on high-sugar foods under the Health Excise Tax. The main reason for this is to improve the health and lifestyle of the people. Obesity and type-2 diabetes are increasing rapidly in the UAE, the biggest reason for which is excessive eating of sweets and sugar-loaded drinks.
The government believes that when people pay higher prices for sugar-containing foods, they will automatically start choosing healthier options. On one hand this will reduce health expenditure and on the other hand it will bring positive change in the society towards healthy eating.
Read this also- Healthy Blood Sugar Tips: Blood sugar will remain normal without medicine, choose 5 natural tips
Which 10 sugar items have the highest tax?
The products on which Dubai has imposed the highest tax include those items which are at the forefront in sugar content-
- Carbonated Drinks – Cola, Orange Soda
- Energy Drinks – High Caffeine and High Sugar
- Packed fruit juice – even 100% juice, if sugar is high
- Flavored Milk Drinks – Chocolate/Strawberry Milk
- Ice Cream and Packaged Dairy Desserts
- Candy and Chocolate Bars
- Breakfast cereals – high in added sugar
- Bottled Tea and Coffee Drinks – Frappe, Mocca, Iced Tea
- Sugar-Flavored Yogurt
- Packed bakery items – cakes, muffins, cookies
Read this also- Diabetes patients must eat the peels of these 5 fruits, it will help in controlling blood sugar.