How does the sugar tax work? Are Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Lucozade now more expensive and which drinks aren’t affected?

A CONTROVERSIAL sugar tax has come into force across the UK in a government initiative claiming to tackle obesity.

But how does the levy work, and do Coke, Pepsi and your other favourite fizzy drinks now cost more? Here’s what you need to know.

How does the sugar tax work?

The measure works by making firms pay a levy if their products contain more than a set amount of sugar.

Since April 6, 2018, companies have been taxed with an 18p per litre fine for drinks containing more than 5g of sugar per 100ml.

Drinks with more than 8g per 100ml are be taxed 24p per litre.

It is up to the companies themselves though to decide how to offset this cost.

The move is hoped to help cut childhood obesity, tooth decay and illnesses like diabetes.

The UK is joining a handful of other nations in introducing the levy, including Mexico, France and Norway.

How have Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Lucozade reduced their sugar content and by how much?

Around half of manufacturers had reduced their sugar content ahead of the levy, many by using sweeteners rather than sugar.

Brands such as Fanta, Ribena and Lucozade have cut back, but Coca-Cola and Pepsi have decided not to change their recipes at all.

The two soft drink giants are keeping 11g and 10.6g per 100ml in their drinks.

But other major brands have responded by slashing half of their sugar content.

Famously sugary Scottish pop Irn-Bru cut the sweet stuff from 10.3g to 4.7g per 100ml.

Lucozade dramatically slashed its sugar intake by nearly two-thirds, from 13g to less than 4.5g.

And Ribena have also responded, cutting sugar by more than half from 10g to less than 5g.

This puts all those firms under the 5g threshold – meaning they won’t have to pay the levy at all.

Are drinks and meal deals more expensive now?

The majority of drinks firms have reduced their sugar content – meaning they don’t need to pay the tax and are therefore not charging customers more.

But Coca Cola and Pepsi’s have chosen not to change their traditional recipes means some of their drinks are now more expensive.

A single can of 330ml coke has gone up by about 10p to 80p with the rise – though the price will still depend on where it’s being sold.

A number of other companies are already passing on the cost of the sugar tax onto customers.

Shoppers accused Burger King of hiking-up prices of Coca-cola and meal deals by as much as 26p due to the sugar tax.

Rival McDonald’s is also pushing up prices of Coke and meal deals by as much as 12 per cent due to the new sugar tax.

Coke also owns Fanta, Schweppes tonic water and Sprite – none of which will reduce their sugar content.

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