Soft drinks: Experts raise alarm over 38.6m litres daily consumption

Soft drinks: Experts raise alarm over 38.6m litres daily consumption

With the increasing rate of non-communicable diseases, health experts have raised concerns over the excessive consumption of soft drinks in Nigeria. An estimated 38.6 million litres of soft drink are sold daily in Nigeria, making it the 4th highest soft drink consuming country in the world.

The drinks are marketed in such a way that customers believe that they get better value when they buy the biggest bottles of soft drink, leading to over consumption. The director of public health at the federal ministry of Health and Social Welfare,  Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, expressed concern over the trend of over consumption among Nigerian adolescents which he said  can lead to childhood obesity and negative health consequences in adulthood.

Anyaike said frequent consumption of SSB is associated with increased incidence of dental cavities, tooth decay and obesity, adding that obesity is in turn a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke and hypertension.  According to him, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death globally and account for a substantial proportion of deaths in the country..

Also, a public health consultant, Dr. Francis Fagbule said that the consequences of regularly indulging in these drinks are far-reaching, adding that the deceptive allure of sugary drinks coupled with aggressive marketing strategies has contributed to a concerning trend of increased consumption.

Dr. Fagbule, therefore, advocated for public awareness campaigns to educate Nigerians about the health risks of SSB consumption.

He also called for mandatory government regulation such as an SSB tax, as well as provide a more effective and consistent approach.

The public health expert urged policymakers to increase the SSB Tax Rate and pass the SSB Tax as a legislative act to ensure stability and long-term  effectiveness.

In the same vein, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a Non-governmental Organisation, urged the government on immediate review of the SSB Tax, and stringent action on industry activities.

Executive director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said “it is important we reinforce our messages on the dangers of SSB consumption, the need for an immediate review of the tax, and a call for government’s stringent action on industry activities.

“We are at a point where the sugary lure of profit clashes with the very essence of our well-being – our health.”

“The statistics are sobering: one in ten Nigerians now live with diabetes, placing a crippling burden on individuals and Nigeria healthcare system,” he lamented. (Leadership)