“Sugar tax is one of the innovative taxing mechanisms that is applied to fight against the growing trends of the use of sugar around the world, and yes, we support introduction of this tax in Armenia since adolescents and not only adolescents in Armenia face problems with extra weight and Type 2 diabetes.” This is what Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan posted on his Facebook page.

“We have recommended and insist that sugar tax extend to all sodas and natural drinks that contain 5 or more grams of sugar per 100 grams. I am emphasizing natural drinks because they also contain sugar and are as dangerous as a soda containing sugar.

I don’t understand the meaning of taxing drinks that don’t contain sugar because there is no logic at all. If there is a substance that does not contain sugar, for instance, a juice containing aspartame with 0 calories, it is as harmful to your health as ordinary mineral water, which won’t be taxed with this excise tax. Aspartame is a substance that makes juice taste sweet, but it isn’t absorbed from the intestines and is doesn’t cause any harm to a person’s organism,” he noted.