A controversial tax aimed at tackling childhood obesity will see the price of fizzy drinks increase following a proposal tabled by the Department of Health.
The ‘sugar tax’ has been widely criticized in some quarters, while others say it is necessary in terms of combating child obesity figures which are continuing to surge every year.
A ‘sugar tax’ system will be adopted in the UK – and Ireland will follow similar guidelines that has been proposed by Government officials in Westminster.
A spokesman for the Department of Health confirmed that the tax is likely to be introduced in 2018 – which is the same date the UK has pencilled in the introduction of the tax.
While the method of calculating the tax, confined to soft drinks, has yet to be revealed, it is expected to be in line with the system already outlined in the UK which will see it based on the amount of sugar in the product.
Under the UK proposal guidelines, manufacturers of fizzy drinks would be subject to two bands: one for total sugar content above 5g per 100ml; and a second, higher band for drinks with more than 8g per 100ml.
Fruit juices and milk-based drinks would not be included.
The ‘sugar tax’ is just one of a number of initiatives by the Department of Health to reduced obesity levels in the country, with PE set to be introduced as a Leaving Cert subject to increase levels of activity in schools.
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