LABOR has promised to phase out sugary drinks from the state's schools, and to better regulate the use of electronic cigarettes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Under the party's preventative health strategy, released Sunday, soft drinks, cordials and sports drinks would be taken out of state primary and high schools.
Labor's health spokeswoman Rebecca White said the policy would be about encouraging children to choose water, rather than banning any drinks from schools.
"It's about making healthy choices and encouraging children and adults to choose water more regularly as their drink of choice," she said.
"Excessive consumption of sugar leads to a range of health issues including tooth decay, weight gain and obesity, which can cause diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers."
The policy would eventually be also rolled out across public hospitals.
Ms White said Labor also wanted to have electronic cigarettes regulated the same way as tobacco products in order to prevent their sale to children.
"There is a danger that the use of e-cigarettes by children will lead to tobacco use later in life," she said.
Heart Foundation Tasmania CEO Graeme Lynch said the health effects of e-cigarettes were not yet known.
"Subjecting e-cigarettes to the same regulations as regular cigarettes is the best way to ensure the hard-won reduction in smoking rates of recent years are not undermined by those peddling new smoking devices," he said.
Mr Lynch said excessive consumption of sugary drinks could lead to obesity, which was a major risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
"There is no one solution to obesity. It requires the input of government, the food industry, the community and individuals to work together," he said.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said Labor's approach to sugary drinks was "nanny statism at its worst".
"Everyone wants to see a healthier Tasmania, however Labor's lazy thought-bubble of prohibition and regulation would see Tasmania become a nanny state where, according to their own release, we'd all be drinking nothing but water," he said.
Mr Ferguson said the government had no plans to change laws for e-cigarettes.