Health Service Plan: Strategies for Implementing a Sugar Tax

This report presents a health service plan focused on implementing a sugar tax in Australia to reduce obesity. It begins with an introduction that highlights the rising global obesity rates and the adverse health effects of excessive sugar consumption, setting the stage for the proposed policy intervention. The plan employs several planning tools, including stakeholder analysis, needs assessment, and SWOT analysis, to evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of the sugar tax. The stakeholder analysis identifies key groups such as health organizations, the food and beverage industry, and the general public, evaluating their perspectives and potential influence on the policy. The needs assessment highlights the health problems associated with sugar consumption and establishes the rationale for the tax. The SWOT analysis assesses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with the tax, such as potential reductions in sugar consumption, potential opposition from industry, and the possibility of increased competition among food manufacturers to produce healthier products. Based on these analyses, the report prioritizes objectives and strategies, emphasizing consumer education and awareness campaigns to increase public support for reduced sugar consumption. The plan concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing obesity through interventions like sugar tax, aimed at promoting public health and reducing the burden of related diseases. The report provides a comprehensive framework for the implementation of a sugar tax, including detailed analysis, strategic recommendations, and a clear rationale for its potential impact on public health.

Running head: DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR
TAX
Develop and prioritise strategies to introduce a sugar tax
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors note

1DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR TAX
1. Introductory statement
Globally, the rate of obesity is increasing at an exponential rate and according to
WHO (2018), the number of obese people has tripled as compared to 1975. In a study
conducted by WHO in 2016, it was found that approximately 1.9 billion adults were
overweight and amongst them, the number of obese was 650 million. (WHO, 2018).
Moreover, according to Sanders et al. (2015), it is estimated that by 2022, Australia will be
declared to be a holding the highest rank in obesity rate, even more than USA and UK.
According to Gulati and Misra (2015), consumption of sugar for a prolonged time
results in insulin resistance, abdominal adiposity, hyperglycemias, and atherosclerosis.
Furthermore, Stanhope (2016) had analysed that the reason behind metabolic syndrome for
sugar consumption is, sugar results in empty calories and thus the energy consumption
becomes higher but the expenditure is lower resulting in weight gain and obesity. According
to Colchero, Molina, & Guerrero-López (2017), it was observed that in the year 2014, when
Mexico imposed a tax of 1-peso/L on sugar-sweetened beverages, there was a decrease in
purchase of sugar-sweetened beverage and instead an increase in water purchase was
observed. It is for this reason that taxes should be levied on sugary products to reduce the
prevalence of spreading illnesses in mankind. Health promotion programs and subsidies
should be provided to the community in Australia to increase the awareness of the
requirement of healthy food. The low socio-economic community in the country need to be
made aware of the ill-effects of over-consumption of sweetened drinks on their health. It is
the motto of the paper to create and implement strategic actions for the government of a sugar
tax to be levied on these drinks.
2. Planning tools
a.Stakeholder analysis

2DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR TAX
The involvement of stakeholders in the implementation and execution of any health
care plan is extremely important. A correct evaluation of the plans on engaging the
stakeholders may play a major role in making the plan successful (Kivits, 2013). Many NGO
and medical professionals welcomed and promoted the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages as
the consumption of such products may contribute to obesity and dental problems (Cornelsen
& Carreido, 2015). However, the members of the health promotion plans and awareness
programs in the region term obesity and ingestion of sweetened drinks as a social and
personal problem. On the other hand, an article by Tselengidis & Östergren (2018) states that,
the food and drink industries are the stakeholders who are mostly affected by this policy of
increased sugar taxation hence; there are strong opposition and arguments by them. The
policies that will be passed by the Australian government will be assessed by the stakeholders
with pieces of evidence and arguments about their sustainability for the general public.
b.Needs assessment
Need assessment particularly for imposing the sugar tax on sugar-sweetened
beverages were taken under the analysis. In this process, analysis of the important needs and
the issues related to this study was evaluated (Escobar et al., 2013). This is considered to
build a base to the out comings and results of the healthcare planning that will be
implemented from this report (Sabatier & Weible, 2014). The most important and basic need
of imposing sugar tax on the sugar-sweetened beverages are considered to be the right to
improve the health condition of the population. In the year 1993, WHO to develop even
categories of the body mass index (BMI) assembled an expert consultation group who
categorised the data into four groups, which included- underweight, normal, overweight and
obese. BMI was considered to be the indicating tool of obesity with a BMI value of 30-35
and above (Nuttall, 2015). Obesity results in multiple health problems and co morbidities
including health-related diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other

3DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR TAX
metabolic disorders by causing insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia (Hinnouho
et al., 2013). Furthermore, it often increases the vulnerability to mental diseases and
disorders. According to Hoare et al. (2014), obesity and mental disorders are found to be
concurrent and the possible causes that were estimated were the common pathophysiology
underlying the diseases, which include- lack of activity, lack of proper nutrition, sedentary
lifestyle. Some examples of sugar-sweetened drinks also referred to as sugar drinks, include
soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and cordials but excludes drinks such as fruit juice,
caffeinated drinks and “sugar-free” beverages. In Australia, especially the children frequently
consume the sugar-sweetened drinks, and in a study conducted by the Australian government,
a consumption rate of 36.2% at least once a week was reported. Further analysis suggested
that in every eleven people, one drinks sugar-sweetened drink daily (Abs.gov.au, 2018).
c.SWOT analysis
SWOT analysis is an analysis in which the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats are analysed which gives an understanding of the capabilities of the plan or
organization (Ng et al., 2013). As the price of sugar increases, this will cause a reduction in
the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, thus improving the nutritional profile of the
population and will also decrease the prevalence of obesity. According to Powell et al.
(2013), it is observed that 20% reduction of consumption of sugary drinks was observed with
an increase of 20% price. Hence, a rise in a tax of 40 % will further decrease the consumption
rate. This tax will be welcomed and accepted by the health-conscious people as this will
improve their health conditions. Different organizations or institutes like the public health
organizations will also be accepting the taxation because obesity, which is a consequence of
the consumption of sugar and its products, escalates and causes various disorders and
diseases for example- metabolic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases.
This causes an increase in medical expenditure. Thus, an increase in taxation will result in

4DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR TAX
healthcare cost savings. Taxation on sugar will also lead to a shift from harmful sugar-
sweetened beverages into healthier choices of food and drinks.
Sugar consumption has become an integral part of most Australians’ daily diet (Lei et
al., 2016). Sugars are found in all sorts of food products such as sugar-sweetened beverages,
ice creams, processed foods, ready-to-eat foods and others. Thus, a sudden increase in
taxation will cause problems in food pattern of many individuals. Many working mothers and
busy employers are dependent on the sugary products, especially the sugar-sweetened
beverage, as it is easier to buy and feed their children, hence a problem will be faced by them
to adjust to the change and will also cause them burden to process foods. On imposing
elevation on the sugar tax, will eventually cause decrease in the sales of the sugar, thus
resulting in a crisis for the sugar manufacturing industries and their employees. This will lead
to increased rate of unemployment of those workers and thus affecting their family.
According to Roache & Gostin (2017), sugar taxation will lead to an increase in the
revenue of many programs like educating school student on healthier food choices, better
access of healthier foods in low economic background people, campaigns and workshops on
risks associated with sugary drink consumptions. Taxation on sugar will open opportunities
and also increase the competition amongst the food manufacturers which will motivate them
to design and develop healthy products that are less in sugar. A variety of food products and
beverages, which are healthy and nutritious, will be introduced in place of the harmful sugar-
sweetened beverages. According to Borges et al. (2017), it was observed that different
multinational beverage companies, in the threat of decreased sales, are influencing scientific
research to develop new and healthier products.
However, in spite of the benefits and new opportunities provided by the increase in
the sugar tax, there are limitations to this strategy. Although increased tax on sugar-

5DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR TAX
sweetened beverages, reduces the total consumption of energy and reduces the chances of
obesity, but it cannot be considered as a permanent or only solution (Nakhimovsky et al.,
2016).
Increased unemployment in sugar manufacturing companies and industries will cause
frequent protest and strikes against the policy. The major and branded sugar-sweetened
beverage industries with power and influence may cause problems in the policy
implementation as the policy will majorly affect their business. Another major threat that can
be faced is the interference of the political parties. For example- when the policy will be
imposed under a particular government, the opposition parties or the contemporaries may
question and interfere with the execution of the policy stating issues like unemployment of
sugar manufacturing companies.
3. Prioritize objectives and strategies
The aim of the health care plan was the implementation of a 40% increase in the sugar
tax of sugar-sweetened beverages. Based on the analysis conducted and the need for
assessment, some objectives were made which focused on the –
1. Synergistic work of the industry and the policy
2. To gain support from public health organization
3. To educate the consumers and create awareness on reduced sugar consumption
Based on the objectives forms, priority setting was done based on the number that
each priority got. The numbers are based on a 5-point scale (5 representing the best score)
Criteria Objective 1
Synergistic work of
the industry and the
policy
Objective 2
To gain support
from public health
organization
Objective 3
Educate the
consumers and
create awareness on
reduced sugar
consumption

6DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR TAX
Effectiveness in
reducing the
problem
3 3 5
Cost effectiveness 4 4 3
Requires less time 3 3 2
Effectiveness in
objective
2 3 5
Availability if
resources
3 3 4
Total 15 16 19
Table 1: Priority setting
(Source: created by the author)
From the above table, it can be clearly understood that objective 3 is considered to
have the highest priority. This objective is having the highest priority because it works in
creating awareness amongst the population, which will help them to understand better and
will motivate more to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and choose a product
that is beneficial for the health.
Various strategies can be applied to fulfilling the objectives. Campaigns and
workshops can be done in sectors like schools and colleges. Various brochures, banners,
posters can be made indicating the potential health risk of sugar consumption which can be
then circulated throughout the country in newspapers. Second, media can play a major role in
spreading the information and increase the effectiveness of the objective. Media, especially
social media, platform can be used to make the teenagers aware of the risk and how to
decrease the consumption of the food product. When the customers themselves will become
aware of the risks, then the overall acceptance of the sugar tax will increase. For example- as
discussed in the SWOT analysis, the weakness highlighted the dependency of the citizens of
Australia on sugar, and the chances of opposition to the health care plan might be increased.
This may be due to the reason of lack of awareness. However, when the consumers will be
made aware of the ill health effects of sugar, easy exclusion of sugar can be achieved.
Moreover, awareness regarding checking of food labelling for the amount of sugar present in

7DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR TAX
the food can also be done (Gostin, 2018). Thus, this objective can play a major role in
increasing the effectiveness of the healthcare plan.
4. Conclusion
Hence, it can be concluded that obesity is a major concern of the citizens of Australia.
It is not only causing weight gain but at the same time leading to other disorders and
increasing the risk of mortality and one of the major causes of obesity is the consumption of
sugar-sweetened beverages. Hence, implementation of a health care plan with an upsurge in
the sugar tax by 40% may reduce the consumption sugar-sweetened beverages due to
increased cost. The goal of this plan is to decrease the sugar consumption and as a result,
decrease the obesity and also evaluate the acceptance of the plan by the normal population.
Therefore, on critical analysis of the plan, it was estimated that increase in the awareness of
the population with the potential health risks on consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
may improve the acceptability rate by the population.

8DEVELOP AND PRIORITISE STRATEGIES TO INTRODUCE A SUGAR TAX
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