Taxing Drinks Misses the Mark & Ignores Three Decades of Australian Evidence
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Claims that Australia’s public health challenges can be fixed by taxing sugar-sweetened beverages are simplistic and ignore the evidence-base from Australian sales and consumption data over almost three decades.
CEO of the Australian Beverages Council, Mr Geoff Parker, said it is disappointing that in calling for a tax, the AMA and other stakeholders are continuing to ignore the latest evidence from almost three decades of peer-reviewed Australian studies and the Government’s own ABS data that shows a fundamental shift away from sugar-sweetened beverages in favour of low and no sugar varieties, including bottled water.
“The data is clear – Australians are drinking half as many sugar-sweetened beverages as they were 28 years ago, and the amount of sugar in those drinks has fallen by 31 per cent1. Over this same period, rates of overweight and obesity in Australia has continued to increase,” said Mr Parker
“For over ten years, a tax on soft drinks has been repeatedly rejected by every United Nations political declaration and outcome document relating to prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and has repeatedly failed the WHO’s own evidence criteria to be a “Best Buy” – meaning it is not in the list of the most cost-effective interventions for governments to address issues like overweight and obesity.”
“Continuing to push this tax as a solution shows a serious disconnect between the evidence and those sitting around tables coming up with the public health solutions relying on outdated data,” said Mr Parker.
The evidence-base from Australia shows real-world initiatives like the industry’s voluntary Sugar Reduction Pledge, reformulation, more low- and no-sugar recipes and smaller pack options are key to building on the trend from over three decades of consumers making the right drink choice for them and their families.
The ABCL supports balanced, evidence-based approaches to addressing the complex health challenges facing Australians, including whole-of-diet and lifestyle measures. Industry supports empowering consumers to make informed choices, as supported through initiatives such as the Health Star Rating system – an initiative that educates consumers to the nutritional profile of beverages they consume. The industry will continue to adapt to changing consumer preferences and work proactively with government to support practical, evidence-based solutions that are proven to improve public health outcomes.
For media enquiries, please contact Lauren Melia, lauren@ausbev.org
[1] Starck CS, Cassettari T, Beckett E, Fayet-Moore F. Evolving Sweet Preferences: Temporal Trends in Australian Non-Alcoholic Beverage Sales from 1997 to 2024. Nutrients 2026.