Sugar Tax UK

About Sugar Tax UK

The UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy, commonly called the sugar tax, was introduced in 2018. The tax charges 18p per liter on drinks with 5 to 8 grams of sugar per 100ml and 24p per liter on drinks above 8 grams. The tax was designed to encourage reformulation rather than raise revenue. Before the tax, over 50 percent of soft drinks were high sugar. After implementation, major brands reformulated to avoid the tax. Coca Cola and Pepsi Classic did not reformulate and are subject to the tax. The sugar tax raised approximately 300 million in its first year, used to fund school sports programs. The UK sugar tax is considered one of the most successful public health tax interventions. Over 50 countries have implemented sugar taxes.