there are 3 types of sugar: chemically treated vegetable sugar with added bleach, and a less toxic brown type, used for sweetening foods. there is sugar extracted from plants other than reeds, beets, potatoes, and fruits.
there is artificial sugar for sweetening and it has been scientifically proven harmful to health.
there is a human sugar called “faisal khaja”, known as sukkar, who has always sweetened our evenings at the jaber cultural center.
all types of sugar, except for saccharin, belong to the carbohydrate category. it was historically found in hot asian regions and was not publicly available. nor did the western world know it, as it depended on honey and other sweeteners, then the colonialists moved its plant to america and the west indies, and its cultivation expanded in the eighteenth century with the establishment of sugar cane plantations in cuba, brazil, and other nations, and its cultivation was widespread in the west.
it affected the course of human history in many ways. it required strong and free labor to work on the vast sugar plantations which attracted millions of africans and they were brought to work there.
the world annually produces approximately 200 million tons of sugar, and the individual’s consumption varies from one society to another. the average person, without diabetes, consumes about 25 kg of sugar annually.
one of the troublesome things, which are not disputed, is that all foods have a benefit other than sugar, because it and all other sweeteners, including honey, have no real nutritional benefit, that is, if their materials are natural and not harmful, then sugar, despite what it adds of a beautiful taste to food, except, in my opinion, it is harmful and no less harmful than drugs, cigarette smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
and out of the concern of many governments for the health of their citizens from sugar, including saudi arabia, its authorities a few months ago were preparing to implement a modern selective tax system, and from december 1 began imposing a high tax on various tobacco products and derivatives and energy and soft drinks. the decision also included sweetened drinks, electronic smoking tools and liquids used in them, by 50% and 100%, respectively.
according to the general authority of zakat and income, sweetened drinks are intended for any product to which a source of sugar or other sweeteners are added to be produced for the purpose of using as a drink, whether it is ready for drinking, concentrates, powders, gel, lotions, or any image that can be converted into a drink.
the commission emphasized that drinks that are not subject to the selective tax according to the definition of sweetened drinks are 100% natural juices for which sugar or other sweeteners have not been added, milk and dairy products and drinks, and concentrates designated for special nutritional and medical uses, in addition to alternative milk drinks and others.
imposing a 100% selective tax on tobacco products and energy drinks, and 50% on soft drinks, as well as on electronic smoking devices and tools, will not only contribute to reducing their consumption and raising the level of health awareness of citizens and residents, but the collected tax will constitute a significant income to balance for the state.
although saudi arabia imposed this tax on the implementation of an agreement within the countries of the gulf cooperation council, kuwait had not yet thought about studying the idea.
the consumption of sugar and adulterated honey in kuwait has been increased to an alarming level, and the percentage of people with diabetes we have the highest rate in the world, and the state agencies are unable to do anything, and the national assembly is busy with matters of less importance, so is any sane person in the ministries of health and finance seeking to impose this tax more than urgent?