Sugar tax 2018 explained – what is it, when did it start, how much is the new fizzy drink tax and is Coke now more expensive?

ATTEMPTS to curb rising levels of obesity and tooth decay led to a new tax on sugary soft drinks.

But what is the tax, and when was it brought in? Here's what you need to know.

What is the sugar tax?

The sugar tax is a levy put on drinks companies to crack down on high sugar levels in soft drinks.

Companies are now taxed according to the sugar content of their wares.

One is for drinks with a total sugar content of more than 5g per 100ml, while a second, higher levy is imposed on drinks with 8g per 100ml or more.

The sugar tax is designed to reduce the consumption of drinks with added sugar.

When did the price of fizzy drinks increase?

The sugar tax came into force on April 6, 2018, after hopes of a U-turn by PM Theresa May were dashed.

The tax is estimated to raise around £520million which will be used to fund sports in primary schools.

The government revealed in November 2018 that the sugar tax had raised close to £154million.

How much will fizzy drinks increase by?

A standard can of regular Coke has gone up by around 8p for a 70p can.

A 1.75ml bottle of coke has increased from roughly £1.25 to £1.49.

Scots favourite Irn Bru (10.5g per 100ml) will face a similar increase to Coke along with Red Bull (11g per 100ml), Dr Pepper (10.3g per 100ml) and Old Jamaica Ginger Beer (15.2g per 100ml).

Iru Bru announced in January 2018 that they will be producing a new sweetener-laced version of the fizzy favourite, which will see sugar content slashed by 54 per cent.

Pure fruit juice is exempt from the tax but fans of a refreshing G&T could feel the pinch as Fever Tree Indian tonic water falls into the highest band with 8g per 100ml.

Drinks with a high milk content are exempt due to their calcium content.

Sugar-free soft drinks such as Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero are not subject to the tax.

Will the sugar tax work?

Other countries have introduced similar measures and have seen some success in reducing the drinking of fizzy drinks.

Mexico introduced a 10 per cent tax on sugary drinks in 2014 and saw a 12 per cent reduction over the first year.

Hungary brought in a tax on the drinks companies and saw a 40 per cent decrease in the amount of sugar in the products.

Brits have joined some of our European neighbours with the move with similar measures in place on drinks in France and Finland and the Norwegians chocolate tax.

But the tax has been met with furious resistance from some quarters with opponents saying it will hit the poor hardest and actually misses out some of the most sugary drinks.

Are chocolate and sweets included in the sugar tax?

Health campaigners have said the fizzy drinks tax should be extended to cover all chocolate, sweets and other confectionery containing the highest levels of sugar.

Chocolate and sweets are already included in Public Health England’s programme aiming for a 20 per cent reduction in sugar by 2020.

But Action on Sugar is urging a mandatory levy set at a minimum of 20 per cent on all confectionery products that contain high levels of sugar.

That includes all those those sold in coffee shops and restaurants.

The six-point manifesto is designed to help tackle the obesity and type 2 diabetes crisis,  campaigners said.

In January 2019 tough new guidelines urged parents to stop children eating Frosties and Coco Pops for low-sugar alternatives such as Shredded Wheat.

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