What is the Soft Drinks Industry Levy?
From 6th April 2018, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (the “sugar tax”) took effect.
This means that from this date, soft drinks manufacturers and importers have to pay a levy for drinks they produce with more than 5g of added sugar per 100ml.
The levy aims to encourage soft drinks manufacturers to reformulate and remove sugar from their products so that they can avoid the charge.
How the Levy Works
Soft drink manufacturers and importers are required to pay a levy to the government for drinks they produce which have more than 5g of added sugar per 100ml.
The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is made up of two rates:
18p per litre if the drink has 5g of sugar or more per 100ml, and a higher rate of...
24p per litre if the drink has 8g of sugar or more per 100ml
This means soft drink manufacturers have to pay an additional:
What Products Does the Levy Target?
The levy applies to soft drinks with:
- More than 5g of added sugar per 100ml
- Ready to drink soft drinks and drinks that must be diluted
- An ABV of up to 1.2%
The levy does not apply to:
- Soft drinks with 75% or more milk content
- Soft drinks with no added sugar
- 100% pure fruit juice
- Alcohol replacement drinks such as non-alcoholic beers and wines
There are no legal requirements on how retailers must respond to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. The Levy is applied at a manufacturer level which means that retailers will not face enforcement action. It is for you to decide how to price products in your store, speak to your wholesaler or other supplier for advice, and see manufacturer communications for recommended retail prices.
For More Information
Please contact Daniel Askew, Public Affairs Executive, by emailing [email protected]
