The sugar tax was introduced on April 6th in a bid to fight obesity and tooth decay. A higher tax is now added to all drinks with high sugar levels making some of your favourite drinks a little more expensive.
What is the sugar tax?
The sugar tax implemented on the 6th of April 2018 is a surcharge on drinks high in sugar levels.
The tax was announced in March 2016 by George Osborne, chancellor at the time. The tax is estimated to roughly raise around £520 million a year.
The raised money from the tax will go to the Department of Education which will be spent on increasing funding for sport in primary schools across the country.
Image: Sugar Tax Notice found in a local Tesco
How much will your favourite drinks increase by?
The levy is applied to the manufacturers of the drinks, it is up to them whether they pass the cost on to the consumers.
Drinks containing 5-8g of sugar per 100ml will face a tax rate equivalent to 18p per litre.
Drinks containing more than 8g per 100ml will face a slightly higher rate of tax, of 24p per litre.
50% of all drinks had their sugar content lowered ahead of the new levy making some customers unhappy with the new taste.
I was thinking this stockpiling of Ribena old recipe was real first world antics, but that new stuff really does taste like it is spoilt! Glad I'm not the only one that has noticed it !
— G.O.A.T✊ (@NemoNgwu) April 27, 2018
So disappointing that the new irn bru doesn't taste the same, AT ALL
— Alix (@albal_x) March 21, 2018
Coca-Cola is one of the few companies that have decided not to change the classic recipe saying, “Consumers tell us not to change it and we believe they should be able to choose a Coca-Cola Classic if that’s the drink they want.”
A 500ml bottle of Coca-Cola now costs an extra 12p, while a 2 litre bottle will set you back an extra 48p.
Image: Old recipe drinks are selling out quickly as people are stocking up.
Consumer opinions on the tax
Audio: People give their opinions on the sugar tax.
We have asked our listeners to tweet in their opinions on the sugar tax using our own hashtag #NSASugarTax.
The opinions have been mixed with many people arguing the government should not interfere with what most consider to be a personal choice.
What has Scotland become?
A dictatorship.
Not allowed to make my choice. If I do I get penalised!
Sugar tax, minimum alcohol pricing……what next be in the house before dark fall?
— MrDeeJay (@spinningthedisc) May 1, 2018
On the other hand people are happy as it will help prevent obesity and other health complications.
#NSASugarTax – Can only be a good thing, will help prevent diabetes which is becoming more common 🤷🏻♂️
— Kieran McAndrew (@kieranmcandrew) May 1, 2018
So what do you think of the new sugar tax?
