Sweetened Packaged Drinks (SPD) have become increasingly common, with products like coffee, tea, processed milk, and carbonated beverages appearing in convenience stores, supermarkets, and cafes.
These sweetened drinks are especially popular among children due to their affordability amid being linked to rising diabetes rates. According to the 2023 Indonesian Health Research (Riskesdas), the prevalence of diabetes in Indonesia has increased to 11.7%.
The PASTI Coalition comprises the Forum Warga Kota (FAKTA) Indonesia, the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), and the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).
Also collaborating with the team are the Center for Behavioral and Health Promotion of the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing at UGM (FK-KMK UGM), the UGM Health Promoting University (HPU UGM), Yayasan KAKAK, and the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), which have reiterated its support for the tax on Sweetened Packaged Drinks.
FAKTA Indonesia Chair Ari Subagyo Wibowo expressed disappointment over the delay in implementing the SPD tax in 2024.
“We hope that the government’s vision of a healthy younger generation can be realized,” said Ari Wibowo in a statement on Friday (Sep. 6) while discussing “Implement SPD Tax as a Form of State Presence for the Golden Generation,” held on Friday (Aug. 30) at Wisma MM UGM.
Wibowo views the tax as a means to change public behavior and educate people that consuming SPD is not part of a healthy and nutritious diet.
Dr. Bagus Suryo Bintoro, Chair of the Center for Behavioral and Health Promotion at FK-KMK UGM, also criticized the delay, noting that the SPD tax could help reduce diabetes cases.
Dr. Uli Parulian Sihombing, Coordinator of the Human Rights Enforcement Subcommittee at Komnas HAM, confirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting the SPD tax.
“Komnas HAM continues to monitor the implementation of the SPD tax and recommends that BPOM improve supervision of food and drugs,” he explained.
Professor Yayi Suryo Prabandari, Chair of HPU UGM, mentioned that HPU UGM has conducted several campaigns promoting healthy eating on campus, including using food traffic light labels and advocating limits on sweetened drink consumption.
Dr. Gisella Tellys, from CISDI, stated that the SPD tax could reduce diabetes rates. She explained that the SPD tax is a fiscal policy tool designed to decrease consumption by increasing product prices.
Similarly, Tulus Abadi from YLKI urged the government to avoid ambiguity in tax implementation, highlighting that it would generate state revenue without harming the industry.
“The tax won’t kill the industry,” he said.
Tulus suggested that the government learn from the Tobacco Excise Tax (CHT) experience, where tax revenues are used for consumption control and health improvement programs.
“The funds are often used to finance health campaigns,” he concluded.
Reporter: Lazuardi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif