Budget 2018 saw the announcement of a new “Sugar Tax” which started on May 1st 2018.
The official name for the new tax in Ireland is the Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax (SSDT).
A similar tax was implemented in the UK in April 2018 – The official name of the “sugar” tax in the UK is the Soft Drinks Industry Levy
In Ireland , soft drink manufacturers are taxed according to the volume of sugar-sweetened beverages they produce or import.
Pure fruit and vegetable juices are not be taxed unless sugar is added. Dairy products are not taxed either, nor are Soya, nut, cereal or seed based “milk substitute” drinks.
Alcoholic drinks or non-alcoholic beer and wine are not subject to the new sugar tax either.
If a retailer has purchased taxable product from a wholesaler based outside the ROI; The responsibility rests on the retailer to submit the paperwork and pay the tax to the government.
If companies take the right steps to make their drinks healthier they will pay less tax, or even nothing at all.
It seems that almost all the major soft drinks producers reformulated their drinks so that they fall outside the Sugar Tax. So it looks like the tax has already started to have the desired effect. Consumers in Ireland will probably not see many price increases at all because of the sugar tax
Coca Cola did not change the sugar content of their “Classic” Coke – so there were price increases on this because of tax.
There is more information about the tax for for producers or retailers on the Revenue website – here.
The government estimated that the “sugar” tax collected in 2018 would be in the region of €30 million and in 2019 and subsequent years it will be €40m per annum. The actual figure rased in 2018 was just €16.5 million.
The tax yield will potentially be decreased as drink makers reduce the sugar content and consumers opt for cheaper non-taxed products .
How Much is the Sugar Tax ?
Drinks with total sugar content above 5g and below 8g per 100ml are taxed at 16.26c per litre. (20c inc VAT)
Drinks with more than 8g per 100 ml are taxed at 24.39c per litre. (30c Inc VAT)
Examples –
- A 330ml can of Coca Cola containing more than 8g per 100ml will incur a tax of 10c.
- A 2 litre bottle of Coca Cola wil have a tax of 60 cent. (inc VAT)
Of course – VAT is added to this tax !
Smaller Sizes:
Coca Cola introduced smaller sizes of their higher sugar “Classic” version – and a new 250ml slimline can and a 375ml bottle instead of the 500ml.
So they are charging VAT on a tax.
How will the revenue from the SSDT tax be used? I hope for nutrition education for children in primary and secondary school. And perhaps to supplement the budget of state-sponsored exercise and weight loss programmes. I’ve been web-browsing a few times today and I can’t see any mention of how the money will be spent. -SF, a practicing medical doctor from Naas
The only comments we have seen is that expenditure cannot be split by specific types of tax – it wil just get put in the pot with all the rest. Hopefully we will see increased spending in the areas you mentioned in teh coming years.
Am I correct in saying that the tax does not apply to diet drinks. The sweet additives used in diet drinks is far more dangerous to our health and this tax will divert people to diet versions which will cause even more health issues. People should wake up and give up all those toxic drinks.