Public health experts are backing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendation for Saint Lucia to implement an excise tax on sweetened beverages, a move partly aimed at curbing the island’s soaring rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) while boosting public revenue.
In its 2024 Article IV Consultation Report published earlier this month, the IMF recommended the introduction of a tax on sweetened beverages. According to the Washington-based financial institution, these taxes could help reduce the negative health effects of consuming these products while generating additional funds for healthcare.
Public health advocates, including Chief Nutritionist Lisa Hunt-Mitchell and medical expert Dr Crystal-Ann Kirk-Auguste, have endorsed the recommendation, highlighting its potential to reduce sugar consumption and combat the high rates of NCDs in the country.
NCDs, including diabetes and cancer, account for 82 per cent of deaths in Saint Lucia, with excessive sugar consumption identified as a major contributor.
Hunt-Mitchell believes such a tax would discourage the purchase of these drinks, particularly in school cafeterias, and reduce their consumption. The chief nutritionist at the Ministry of Health drew attention to a survey conducted by her unit that found that, on average, children consumed about three sweetened soft drinks per week, with availability linked to higher usage.
“What we found in that survey is that access was easier at schools with the highest soft drink consumption. For example, at schools where no soft drinks were sold, intake was very low,” she told St Lucia Times.
“Implementing a ban or even reducing the availability of these beverages would make our school environments healthier. Enforcing policies aimed at removing unhealthy drinks and foods from schools will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health of our children.”
Dr Kirk-Auguste, a medical doctor and the owner of Kids Health Creative—a business focused on creating content that inspires children and parents to make healthier food choices—recalled the effects of a similar tax in Mexico when she studied there.
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, the 2014 soda tax led to a decline in sales of about six per cent in the first year and 7.6 per cent in the second. The decrease was even steeper among lower-income households.
“Mexico has been forced to confront the devastating impact of excessive sugar consumption, with obesity and diabetes reaching crisis levels,” Dr Kirk-Auguste said. “Their experience teaches us a critical lesson: prevention is always better—and more cost-effective—than treatment.”
She added: “Saint Lucia has a unique opportunity to be proactive rather than reactive. Unlike larger nations with highly industrialised food systems, we have access to an abundance of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables that can serve as healthier alternatives to sugary drinks. The key is education and accessibility.”
She recommended other steps the government should take to give the tax a better chance of success, such as:
- Health education programmes funded by tax revenue
- Restricting the marketing of sugary drinks to children, similar to policies on tobacco advertising
- Clearer nutrition labels and subsidies for healthier alternatives like coconut water or fruit-infused drinks
- Partnerships with companies to install free or low-cost water dispensers in schools
The government has not indicated whether it will consider the tax.
