Dental Association calls for action after Kiwi drinks found to be sweeter than overseas

Recent research on the sugar content of non-alcoholic drinks showed New Zealand drinks have higher sugar levels, compared to Australia, Canada and the UK.

The New Zealand Dental Association is calling for immediate measures to address sugary drink harm, including an icon label on sugary drinks, a sugary drink levy, and ensuring schools are ‘water only.

Sugar is a major contributor to dental decay, and the study showed that drinks sold in New Zealand have several teaspoons of sugar more than similar products sold in other countries.

“An end to the confusion around ‘sugar per 100mls’ is within our grasp. We’re asking for a sugary drink icon. This would clearly let consumers know how many teaspoons of sugar are in their drink,” said NZDA spokesperson Dr Rob Beaglehole.

“We’ve seen many countries address sugary drink consumption, by adding a levy on the price of sugary drinks. The U.K. is introducing one in April this year.

“In the past few years we’ve seen great success in ‘water-only policy for primary and intermediate schools, but this needs to extend to all schools, including high schools,” said Dr Beaglehole.

A consortium of public health groups is backing a NZDA-led 7-point Consensus Statement on Sugary Drinks.