The NZ Herald states some Kiwi's would change their eating and drinking habits if the Government imposed a 'fat tax' on fast-food and a 'sugar tax' on soft drinks.

If the Government imposed a 'fat tax' on fast-food:

• 73% might reduce their buying frequency
• 24% might alter their habits with a twenty percent tax and a further twenty eight percent might change with a twenty five percent tax
• 14% would stop buying altogether

If the Government imposed a 'sugar tax' on soft drinks:

• 39% would change their fizzy drink habits
• 36% might change their habits with a fifty percent tax
• 19% might buy fizzy drinks less often with a twenty percent tax and a further twenty percent might change with a twenty five percent tax

In New Zealand, 40 people are diagnosed with diabetes each day and 260,000+ people live with the disease; double that of 10 years ago. Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and NZ has a 31% rate of obesity; triple what it was in 1970.

Diabetes NZ has launched a comprehensive online support and self-management "toolkit" to help people with diabetes to live well. Diabetes is not only a drain on our health system, it is a life-changing and life-limiting disease that can lead to stress, anxiety and poor self-care.

A recent article suggests the tax on soft drinks in Mexico could prevent hundreds of thousands of adults from developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, saving approximately $1 billion in healthcare costs over the next 10 years.

Would a 'sugar tax' on soft drinks and a 'fat tax' on fast food affect your drinking and eating habits?