Canadian Beverage Association statement in response to the Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention call for a beverage levy

Information not Taxation

When it comes to making food and beverage decisions, consumers want information not taxes!

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Beverage Association believes that education, not taxation, is the way to help consumers make informed food and beverage choices. A soft drink tax, as suggested by the Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention (APCCDP) would be nothing more than a tax grab and would provide no benefit to consumers.

The Canadian beverage industry is committed to working with governments and other partners to identify meaningful solutions that will help address complex public health issues.

"A levy of this nature is simply the coalition calling for a tax on the consumer's grocery cart," said Jim Goetz, President, Canadian Beverage Association. "Calling for a tax on individual foods and beverages in an effort to change public health doesn't work, in fact research has shown it to have no meaningful impact. Science shows that education, not taxation, is the key to improving public health." 

The beverage industry believes that it can be a part of the solution. It already offers a wide variety of hydration options, including no- and low-calorie beverages, and has undertaken a number of concrete and meaningful actions to responsibly market their products and help promote healthy active lifestyles.

The Canadian Beverage Association is the national trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute the majority of non-alcoholic refreshment beverages consumed in Canada. Over 58,000 individuals are employed directly, indirectly and through induced jobs in the Canadian beverage industry.

For more information on the Canadian Beverage Association, please visit www.canadianbeverage.ca.

SOURCE Canadian Beverage Association

Stephanie Baxter, Canadian Beverage Association, 416 362 2424, [email protected]