Tonga's tax on sugar-sweetened drinks Dr Gerhard Sundborn - Dr Fizz shares his story 

A study into Tonga's tax on sugar-sweetened drinks has found it may have led to an increase in bottled water production. Now research, by a team from Otago University, is one of the first studies of such taxes in the Pacific, where 14 countries and territories have introduced them.

Since introducing its tax in 2013, the Tongan Government has taken about $US3.4 million (approx $NZ5.1m) a year in revenue.

The tax has been raised twice since it was first introduced, and now sits at about 31 percent, which led to about a 17 percent increase in the price of a particular brand of soft drink, according to the research.

Dr. Fizz Founder, Dr. Gerhard Sundborn is part We are a group of researchers and public health doctors who have come together to advocate for ending the sale of sugary drinks with poor health, including obesity, type-2 diabetes, rotten teeth, gout and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease and premature death.live interview with John Pulu