Mixed reactions to duty on fizzy drinks, tobacco

The government decision to implement excise tax on tobacco products and fizzy drinks is an astute move. It will result in a good reduction in its consumption. I expects a 20 per cent reduction as the less financially capable population feel the pressure to quit or reduce consumption. The government has taken the right step, it will definitely have an impact. We could see a 20 to 30 per cent drop in consumption in the country. It is highly addictive and people feel compelled to smoke. The price increase will break the pattern and make them think twice. This may force them to reduce smoking and even quit. Smoking is one of the most harmful things you can engage in, it is the cause of various diseases. A number of diseases related to the heart can come from it, lung cancer is another possibility. Even reducing the smoking habit can be very good because it can at least reduce the injury that one causes on himself,. There is no medicine to help stop smoking. I wouldn’t recommend any that is on the market right now, they only provide temporary relief. To permanently quit smoking, it has to come from the heart and will require a lot of willpower. 

It is a similar case with fizzy drinks. Fizzy drinks are also addictive to many, not in the same way as cigarettes but in its own way it is addictive. It’s doing them a lot of harm. These drinks are not healthy and should be completely avoided. The government has taken a positive step by putting up such taxes.

Dr. Sunil Sitaram Rathi, 

Aster Medical Center Specialist Internal Medicine

I don’t drink soft drinks on a regular basis. So I don’t know how much they used to cost and how much they cost now. I don’t really buy them. But I think discouraging the consumption of soft drinks is a step in the right direction from a public health perspective. However, I hope that restaurants do not use this as an opportunity to disproportionately inflate their prices. The restaurants business is a significant and important segment of economic activity in this country and I wouldn’t want it to suffer under this new tax.

Amy Vaya 

In my opinion, the excise tax won’t have a significant impact on soft drinks. Some of us remember when they raised the price to 150 fils per can and it didn’t make much of a difference then either. Tobacco market would also be not affected. However, I think energy drinks like Red Bull may be affected since it’s gone from 650 fils to BD1.3 which means it would be a burden on the budgets of regular drinkers.

Mohammed Hassan 

The new price rise affects me a lot or people like me who consume soft drinks on a daily basis. On the one hand, the government decision is actually agood to help people stay healthy and help the economy. On the other hand, I feel like it may have a negative impact on the economy as well. Well, if people stop drinking, it’s healthier for them but at the same time if they stop buying, then retailer businesses would be affected by that. 

Ammar Muhammad Naeem

The rise in the prices of soft drinks would really affect the economy.  Reason being the people would reduce the consumption of the product, which would lead to fewer sales and once the market gets affected, people to lose jobs which is a big risk. For example, if you see the price of Red Bull has increased to BD1.3, the common person won’t consume the product which will make the energy drinks a luxury commodity. 

Muhmmad Ehsan Yousaf