29-04-2025
Full list of drinks that could go up in price with expansion of sugar tax
The tax on sugary drinks could be about to get a lot broader, with milkshakes and coffees brought into line for the first time.
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.
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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.'
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