Milkshakes and lattes to face sugar tax in UK

"Pre-packaged milkshakes and coffees that are high in sugar will be hit with an extra tax from 2028, after the government said it was extending the tax on fizzy drinks to include milk-based products. "This government will not look away as children get unhealthier," Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said in Parliament. That could mean an extra tax on popular products like Yazoo, Muller's Frijj and Starbucks Caffe Latte as well as drinks branded "high protein" like Ufit and Shaken Udder."

"The levy, brought in by the Conservative government in 2018, is designed to reduce sugar consumption and obesity by giving manufacturers an incentive to use less sugar. The tax applies to products in cans, cartons and other packaging, but not to drinks sold over-the-counter in cafes or coffee shops. The government is also lowering the threshold at which the tax applies from 5g of sugar per 100 ml to 4.5g per 100ml."

"The milkshake tax has been criticised by politicians who see it as excessive interference from the government in personal consumption choices. However, the health secretary said it would support the health of the population and help reduce the burden on public health services. "Obesity robs children of the best possible start in life, hits the poorest hardest, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems and costs the NHS billions," Streeting said."

The sugar levy will be extended to pre-packaged milk-based drinks and some plant-based milk drinks from 2028. The taxable threshold will fall from 5g to 4.5g of sugar per 100ml. A lactose allowance will exclude some naturally occurring milk sugars from tax calculations. The levy will still exclude drinks sold over-the-counter in cafes and certain categories such as fruit juices, alcohol-free beer and wine, and meal replacement drinks. The measure aims to reduce sugar consumption and obesity, while critics describe it as excessive government interference in personal consumption choices.

Read at www.bbc.com