We have suggested that the sugar tax applies to natural and carbonated beverages: Arsen Torosyan

Health Minister Arsen Torosyan writes on his Facebook page:

“The sugar tax is one of the innovative taxation mechanisms implemented worldwide to combat the increasing consumption of sugar. And yes, we are in favor of its introduction in Armenia as well, considering we have problems with excess weight among adolescents and not only, as well as type 2 diabetes issues.

We have proposed and insist that the sugar tax should be applied to all natural and carbonated beverages that contain 5 grams or more of sugar per 100 grams of beverage. I specifically mention the natural ones because they also contain sugar and are just as harmful as sugary carbonated drinks.

It is unclear to me what the rationale of taxing sugar-free beverages is since the logic completely breaks down. If there is a sugar-free substance, for example, a drink containing aspartame that has 0 calories, it is approximately as harmful to health as regular carbonated mineral water, which, however, will not be taxed by this excise duty. Aspartame is a substance that gives the drink a sweet taste but is not absorbed by the intestines and is harmless to the body.”