One in five adults say the sugar tax won’t deter them from buying sugary drinks
One in five UK adults (21 per cent) say that potentially paying a little bit extra won’t bother them if they want a sugary drink. This is according to survey figures released today by YouGov and Simplyhealth, the experts behind Denplan payment plans. Just over half of the nation (59 per cent) supports the new tax, but a significant number of people would not be deterred by potential price hikes of sugary beverages. In the same survey, 20 per cent of adults admitted they are addicted to sugar.
Nicknamed the ‘sugar tax’, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy is a completely new measure that came into force today. Plans for the tax were announced in the Government’s 2016 budget in response to the nation’s alarming levels of obesity and poor oral health.
The tax primarily targets manufacturers and importers of sugary soft drinks and encourages them to adjust their recipes and reduce the levels of sugar in their drinks, thereby avoiding the tax or paying a lower level. However, consumers could also be affected and be forced to pay more for sugary drinks if manufacturers decide to not reformulate their recipes and pass on the tax to consumers.
Under the new levy, drinks with a sugar content over five but below eight grams per 100ml will see 18p added to the price of the drink per litre, and drinks containing over eight grams of sugar per 100ml will face an increase of 24p per litre.
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