Full list of drinks that could go up in price with expansion of sugar tax
Sugar content in soft drinks collapsed by 46% in the past five years as a result of the levy introduced by Chancellor George Osborne in 2016, according to the Food and Drink Federation.
But in her autumn budget last year, Osborne's successor Rachel Reeves said she was considering widening it out.
Currently, the tax is added to soft drinks with sugar content of 5% or more – leading some brands to change their recipe to lower their level to just under that threshold.
Some, such as Irn Bru, also gave customers the option of buying a premium version with the original recipe at a higher price.
The government is consulting on proposals to drop the threshold to 4%, meaning many drinks that changed their recipe would be sucked back in.
Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight, walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sign up here.
Other plans include applying the tax to milk-based drinks like lattes and milkshakes, as well as non-dairy alternatives made out of oats and rice. Frijj chocolate milkshake : 11.4g of sugar per 100ml
: 11.4g of sugar per 100ml Cadbury chocolate milkshake : 10.3g of sugar per 100ml
: 10.3g of sugar per 100ml Yazoo chocolate milkshake : 8.6g of sugar per 100ml
: 8.6g of sugar per 100ml Starbucks Caffe Latte iced coffee : 8.3g of sugar per 100ml
: 8.3g of sugar per 100ml Arctic Coffee Cafe Latte : 7.9g of sugar per 100ml
: 7.9g of sugar per 100ml Shaken Udder Vanillalicious : 8.4g of sugar per 100ml
: 8.4g of sugar per 100ml Jimmy's Iced Coffee original : 4.9g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.9g of sugar per 100ml Irn Bru : 4.5g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.5g of sugar per 100ml Pepsi : 4.5g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.5g of sugar per 100ml Old Jamaica Ginger Beer : 4.9g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.9g of sugar per 100ml San Pellegrino Lemon : 4.5g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.5g of sugar per 100ml Fanta Lemon : 4.5g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.5g of sugar per 100ml Ribena : 4.3g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.3g of sugar per 100ml Tango Orange : 4.3g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.3g of sugar per 100ml Dr Pepper : 4.3g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.3g of sugar per 100ml Rubicon Sparkling Mango : 4.5g of sugar per 100ml
: 4.5g of sugar per 100ml Lucozade Orange: 4.5g of sugar per 100ml
The milk-based drinks would get a 'lactose allowance' under the plans, taking into account the sugars that occur naturally from the milk.
Christopher Snowdon of right-wing think tank the Institute for Economic Affairs called for the sugar tax to be 'repealed, not expanded'.
He said: 'It has been costing consumers £300 million a year while childhood obesity rates have continued to rise. More Trending
'To claim it has been a success on the basis of a hypothetical reduction of one calorie a day is absurd.'
According to the NHS, obesity in children aged between 11 and 15 has increased over the past ten years.
Government statistics released last September showed the tax has raised a total of £1.9 billion since it first came into effect in 2018.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told BBC Breakfast this morning: 'We are making sure we are taking practical, sensible measures to improve the health of our children.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Non-doms are abandoning London's wealthiest postcodes – and it matters more than you think
The round robin emails come in weekly. 'Dear friends,' it begins. 'Our devoted housekeeper of 15 years is looking for new opportunities, as sadly, we cannot take her with us to Dubai. Thank you, Rachel Reeves, sad emoji.' Where the residents of Notting Hill and Holland Park once stole each other's staff, now the same crew of cleaners, gardeners, tutors and chefs drop handwritten notes under my door offering their services at half the previous rates. According to recent payroll figures, the number of people employed in hospitality – and this includes our favourite local Italian trattoria on Holland Park – fell by 58,000 between January 2024 and January 2025. Some of this is because of the hikes in national insurance, but having called three local restaurants, it's also about the absence of regular European customers. Cadogan Tate moving trucks are a daily feature on my street, as are goodbye parties. Here's just one of many examples from my WhatsApp. 'Hallo, as life moves on and taxes increase, we are celebrating ___'s birthday at home and our departure. Are you free?' At a recent dinner, I reckoned around three-quarters of the guests – all of them European – were leaving the UK against their will (practically at gunpoint is how they described it) because their (to be honest, very cushy) deal of the past 200 years was coming to an end. George Osborne laid the foundations. Rachel Reeves poured the quick cement, particularly when she announced that non-doms would now be subject to the same inheritance tax as the British, which currently stands at 40 per cent, and that this would now apply to the global assets of wealthy foreigners who have lived in the UK for more than 10 years. This, more than anything else, is what's driving the rich out. Britain lost more billionaires than any country in the world over the past two years, raising fears that more will flee abroad if the government introduces a wealth tax. Non-doms, as they are known, or non-domiciles, describe a class of wealthy people born outside of the UK who previously were allowed to live full-time in the UK while declaring their permanent home overseas. This allowed them to avoid paying taxes on any foreign income or gains. The influential group of millionaires and billionaires to whom this status applied included Lakshmi Mittal and Rishi Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty. The vast majority of non-doms who kept central London restaurants, shops and hair salons in employment were Europeans. Many worked in the same international banks as my husband, their children occupying the desk next to my own two sons. Seamus Wylie of the Belgravia estate agent Ayrton Wylie tells me that anything that is top ticket – wine, art or luxury cars – is badly down. Non-doms may not have paid tax on their family's investment funds, but boy did they spend in London (also Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, where many bought second homes). Which doesn't matter, until it does and you realise London is the country's investment hub. Many top-end London houses now sit unsold (20 luxury properties in Belgravia are on the market currently). 'Some houses on the £10-15m mark have been mothballed because this is just one of many properties owned,' he says. 'The inhabitants have moved to Dubai, Monaco or Switzerland for a few years.' The cost to the local economy, he says, cannot be underestimated. 'My clients went to restaurants and stayed in country hotels on the weekend. They kept the local shops, butchers, dry cleaners and car dealerships going.' A buying agent for the very wealthy who would like to remain nameless says kicking out the non-doms has been an incredible act of self-harm. 'When you had non-doms, they employed people because that's what homeowners do. They employ builders and decorators, they hire staff, creating a massive trickle-down economy. The ultra-rich are the most mobile people in society and there is the Labour government trying to chip away at them. There is no trickle-down effect. There's just the politics of envy.' And if plans for a further UK wealth tax are implemented, as some have suggested, while it could generate billions annually, the revenue leakage – via capital flight, evasion, and offshore concealment – could be significant. Some are even predicting that it could wipe out 10-20 per cent of the tax base (potentially more than £200 bn), which would reduce what the Treasury actually nets. The TaxPayers' Alliance regularly points to OECD data that shows countries like Sweden, Ireland, and the Netherlands all scrapped wealth taxes, citing capital flight and administrative costs. Those that kept them (Spain, France, Norway, Switzerland) generate only 0.2-0.4 per cent of GDP, according to their cited data. Of my group of international friends (this includes Brits who are also leaving because of the new tax regime), I would say almost 30 per cent have already left. At one recent dinner, we were the only couple without plans to relocate to some hybrid of Dubai/Milan/Cyprus. The man seated next to me, a scion of a European banking family, boasted that by moving to Cyprus, he was saving vast amounts on tax, even though his wife later told me she hates travelling every weekend from Oxfordshire to see him. Noteworthy was the fact that his two children had moved to America, which allows no tax exemptions and therefore he would not be joining them. Where once we heard comments such as 'if Labour gets in, we're going', we're now getting emails which include four changes of address. Wealth advisers Henley & Partners who help the rich obtain those ever more elusive 'golden visas' (which I suspect are rapidly turning into a thing of the past) estimate that more than 10,000 millionaires left the UK last year, with all the consequences of turning off the tap of wealth trickling into the local economy that comes with that. While their numbers are challenged by other wealth advisers and even the government, I don't need a graph. My hairdresser was on the verge of tears last week as we sat in an almost empty salon in central Notting Hill. 'My European clients used to leave for July and August. Now I see them once or twice a year on their allotted 14 or 19 days,' he says. The ability to return to the UK is based on individual (tax) situations, meaning that some of my friends can only come to the UK for two weeks (even if their children live here). Others are allotted 90 days. This exodus is also affecting gyms and private clubs – 5 Hertford Street and The Walbrook Club in the City of London among them. '[HMRC] have cited membership as evidence of ties to this country, and so they've had to resign from us,' says Walbrook managing director Philip Palumbo. But there is a price to leaving, too. A European friend, whose children live here and whose closest friends are British, chose to stay. He tells me: 'My wife and I have talked about this endlessly and we decided we didn't want to live in Dublin. Dubai is a hellhole, and Switzerland is about to put in an inheritance tax. There is growing resentment, if not hostility, across Europe towards wealthy tax exiles and their golden visas. In an uncertain world, Britain feels safer than most.' The non-doms exodus has already scared Rachel Reeves into offering a new package called FIG (foreign income and gains), which allows former non-tax residents to bring in money at a lower tax rate for four years. Word is she could be reconsidering inheritance tax as well. Everyone I spoke to for the purposes of this article said they would return to the UK if new decisions were made, meaning London is still the city they most want to live in. There is sympathy for how these taxes are affecting the wealth creators, versus the wealth protectors. Like the young British entrepreneur who moved to New York or Hong Kong for business purposes and opportunities (then came back and bought properties). That is different from the tax-exiles choosing simple wealth protection, those living in some sad Maltese development in order to fulfil their 'obligatory' tax residency days. To many, they have made a Faustian pact. Ole Lehmann, a German tax exile who moved to Cyprus and eventually returned to the UK, described his sad life. 'Building real, lasting in-person relationships became nearly impossible,' he writes. 'I've watched friends disappear for months at a time, returning only to maintain residency [then] only to vanish again.' In the end, he says, 'I traded one prison (high taxes) for another (day counting).' 'Day counting' means you get an email from European friends saying, 'we're back next week for Wimbledon and would love to see you', to which many of us now shrug our shoulders. Those of us left behind, paying our dues, contributing to society however unhappily, have closed ranks. A member of my book club who has relocated to Ireland now misses half the meetings – do we kick her out? We have a grandchild now – do we really want to see her twice a year or whatever HMRC allows? Our adult children pop in weekly, a great luxury for me as the daughter of a diplomat whose parents lived on the other side of the ocean for most of my life. Do my husband and I really want to move to Italy or Lisbon, where the residents not only ignore you but actually dislike you for hiking up property prices and not bothering to learn the language? A friend sums it up. 'The trouble with the non-dom thing is that it puts a price on what is essentially above price and invites a discussion on what is wealth. True wealth, it seems to me, is about love and friendship and belonging and making a difference. Unfortunately for many non-doms, it looks like wealth is defined by dollars.' It's about core values. 'Friendship is about consistency and time spent: it's an investment. When a non-dom says 'we're coming next week', I don't respond anymore. They made their choice.' It's just a shame that their choice is having a miserable effect on so many of the people who loved having them here, and those whose businesses depended on them being here. Rachel Reeves, take note.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
The 55p supermarket iced coffee that's better than a Starbucks carton
NOTHING tastes better on the early commute or school run than a refreshing iced coffee on a rushed summer morning. No wonder iced coffee sales have shot up 22% in the UK over the last five years, according to trend-watcher Innova 360. 8 The cheapest way to make them is, of course, to do it yourself at home. But if you love the luxury treat of a barista brew, there's an easy way to replicate it for less. Just pick up a canned iced latte for as little as 55p from your local coffee shop or supermarket. That's an absolute bargain compared to high street options: Starbucks is currently selling its venti iced latte for over £5 in London stores. Below I put iced coffee to-go to the test, pitting big brand names like Starbucks and Nescafé against budget rivals from the supermarkets. Emmi Caffè Latte Cappuccino Iced Coffee 230ml £1.85 from Sainsbury's This might just be the perfect cool drink for people who don't like the bitterness of coffee but want a refreshing morning caffeine hit. Emmi Caffè has a milky taste, chocolate overtones, a creamy texture, and slips down very smoothly. It's sweetly delicious - low-fat cocoa powder is one of the ingredients and, at 145kcal, it might not be a dieter's choice. The only other downside is that this coffee comes in a plastic cup rather than a can, where the cup's rim was a bit sharp when drinking straight from it. Worth it, though, for one of the tastiest brews we tried. 4/5 Ueshima Iced Latte 250ml £2 from Ocado This is a premium drink from the Japanese inventors of canned coffee. The story goes that Mr Ueshima bought a coffee at a train station in the 1960s, but had to leave it behind to catch his train - so spent a year working on canned coffee and started selling it in 1969. This one tastes like it's been improved over decades, with a rich and refreshing taste. Being only 75kcal in the can, one of the lowest-calorie canned coffee drinks, it doesn't taste as sweet as some others - anyone who likes a traditional coffee over ice will enjoy this one. At £2, though, it's not far off the cost of a coffee shop treat and wasn't distinctive enough for the price to seem worthwhile. 3/5 Jimmy's Iced Coffee Original 275ml £2.10 from Tesco 8 This is a super refreshing choice, and comes in a classy and recyclable silver-coloured bottle which we found perfect for refilling with water later on. The coffee is the perfect consistency: not too thick or runny, and full of flavour without being overly sweet. It's just over 100kcal per bottle, despite containing more coffee than the other products thanks to its larger bottle size. Jimmy's comes in a range of flavours, from gimmicky "iced coffee donut" flavour to the usual mocha, caramel and extra-protein options. You can buy Jimmy's in slightly smaller 250ml cans, starting at £1/25 at Iceland. 4/5 Starbucks Caffè Latte Iced Coffee 220ml £2.20 from Tesco As you'd expect from one of the kings of high street coffee, Starbucks has put a lot of thought into its iced latte. It came in the easiest to drink packaging: a cup with a recyclable lid and straw which is perfect to sip on the go. The Starbucks latte - espresso plus creamy milk - is a flavoursome brew, sweeter than others and very moreish. But the calorie content showed the sweetness too, coming in at a hefty 165kcal per cup. Price-wise, I'd avoid it for £2.20. 3/5 M&S classic latte 250ml £2 8 There's a double shot of espresso and semi-skimmed milk in this generous-sized can. It's not too sweet, but it also doesn't have a particularly strong coffee flavour: the overriding flavour is creaminess. Despite that, there's only 100kcal in each 250ml can, and it was a refreshing caffeine hit: I definitely felt extra alert after this double shot of espresso. Anyone who likes their coffee to taste like milk with a dash of Arabica will love this can - but hard-core bean fans may find it too creamy. 3/5 Nescafé Iced Coffee Latte 750ml £3 (£2.50 on Tesco Clubcard deal) 8 This is a larger bottle, perfect for keeping in the fridge at home. The bulk discount means it works out at a cheap 83p per 250ml portion - but it's too big to cart around so minus points for the convenience factor. As it has UHT milk inside, though, it doesn't need to be stored in the fridge until after it's opened. Nescafé's latte tastes like a sweeter drink than Ueshima and Jimmy's- it comes in at 93kcal per 250ml portion - but lacks the chocolatey taste of some others. It's a mild, creamy latte that's a good value option if you like to have an iced coffee to grab at home, but I prefer the convenience of cans and cups to multitask as an on-the-go refreshing treat. 3/5 Lidl Latte Macchiato 250ml 55p The cheapest iced coffee by miles - and it tastes great too. Lidl's latte has a mild coffee taste, with a creamy, slightly thicker texture - which might be why it packs a stonking 200kcal in per portion. The packaging is a bit of a drawback, too: it has a thin foil covering the plastic cup at the top. I'd be too nervous to chuck this iced latte into my bag as any jostling during the commute would see it burst, unlike Starbucks' cup design which has a plastic lid for security. Other can designs are more robust too. Still, overall this macchiato slips down really easily and is a refreshing, sweet coffee that tastes even better when you know how much of a bargain it is. 4/5 How to save money on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Belfast Telegraph
7 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Titanic, Tayto, Stormont: Japanese ambassador to UK explores NI and meets Executive ministers
Hiroshi Suzuki also fostered political ties during his three-day visit here and met with senior Executive figures in Stormont, as he explored the best of what the country has to offer while indulging in a bit of sightseeing. The ambassador is well known for getting fully involved in the many trips he makes around the UK, having previously been seen enthusiastically singing the Welsh national anthem during a trip to Wales earlier this year and tasting Irn Bru in Scotland. During his latest excursion, Mr Suzuki took to social media — where he has an active presence — to document his travels in NI, first sharing a image of himself outside Belfast City Airport alongside a photo in which he is enthusiastically pointing at a Tayto vending machine. The envoy then made his way to the Giant's Causeway, where he remarked on being 'deeply moved by the magnificent scenery'. While in Co Antrim, he also took a tour of one of the world's oldest whiskey distilleries, Bushmills Distillery, learning about the drink-making process. To complete his tour of the North Coast, Mr Suzuki visited Dunluce Castle alongside his beloved Paddington Bear, with which he is often pictured. In a social media post, he said it was a 'place filled with romance and history. Its appearance perched on the cliff was magnificent and I could feel its former glory. Also enjoyed the refreshing breeze and beautiful scenery walking along the Portrush coastline.' The diplomat was later greeted by Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly at Stormont Castle. A spokesperson from the Northern Ireland Executive said: 'The ambassador is on a three-day visit to Northern Ireland and discussions focused on trade and investment, including the contribution of Japanese businesses currently operating here, and cultural connections.' Mr Suzuki added: 'Pleasure to meet Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly... Enjoyed fruitful discussions on a wide range of topics including economic and cultural ties between Japan and Northern Ireland.' 'Hate incident' Co Tyrone bonfire topped with migrant effigy lit Mr Suzuki also took the time to visit Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots to discuss ways of 'strengthening relations between Japan and Northern Ireland'. The ambassador also tasted some of the local food and drink on offer by ordering an Ulster Fry and an Irish coffee and documented his attempt of 'splitting the G' while enjoying a pint of Guinness. Other visited hotspots included Carrickfergus Castle as well as the Titanic building, which 'mesmerised' him. Northern Irish-based Japanese businesses, including Fujitsu, electronic components manufacturer Kyocera AVX, Nihon Cyber Defence and Ryobi Aluminium Casting, also welcomed the envoy to their sites.
