The tax change on soft drinks arouses strong opinions among Finns. “I’m going to stop buying,” many of Iltalehti’s survey respondents threaten.
1.4. the soft drink tax change entered into force. The change can already be seen in the prices of soft drinks on store shelves. For example, the price of sugary soft drinks went up immediately, overnight.
The soft drink tax was tiered into six different levels according to the sugar content of the drinks. Drinks with the highest sugar content are taxed the most. Both Hesburger and McDonald’s had time to react to the change.
Readers who responded to Iltalehti’s survey were very emotional about the changed taxation of sodas and other soft drinks.
– I will not buy a single soft drink again. It’s ridiculous that even Vichy and mineral waters were taxed even though they don’t contain sweeteners or sugar. Absolutely brazen taxation of people, and I won’t put my money into that, he says Oscar.
– We rely on purchased drinking water at the cabin, so it’s a shame, he says Eki.
– Definitely a bad change. I rarely drink soft drinks or juices, and when I do, I always choose the sugary option, says one respondent.
– This is driving the brewing industry into trouble. You can’t try to tax everyone. Here we go back to the fact that some people have money for soda, others don’t, he reflects Peku.
– My consumption will decrease with this, and I’m not going to drink artificial zero versions, there is a clear difference in taste, says Timo.
“I won’t buy a single soft drink again,” says one Iltalehti reader. Minna Jalovaara
“Antagonize”
According to one reader, the change is “total bullshit”. Another says it makes no sense. Many of the respondents consider the change to be excessive patronage and guidance.
– It makes you angry on behalf of the poor when prices are being extorted and raised from all sides. If a poor person could buy a little lemonade for hopelessness, then even the joy has to stop. Isn’t there a point where you could stop the extortion already, it’s sad Irkku.
– Absolutely stupid. Not all people can drink sweetened beverages, and not everyone likes their taste anyway. There could be more ones with only the fruit’s own sugar and nothing added, especially no sweeteners, he thinks Katjuska.
– Taxes in Finland are starting to be completely unsustainable, I will move abroad as soon as a suitable opportunity arises, and I will pay my taxes in another country in the future, as all smart and rich people already do, The river piled up.
– Complete nonsense. The state should rather support sugary drinks than punish them, says Iltalehti reader who avoids sweeteners.
Many are worried about the sweeteners in sugar-free soft drinks.
– Our consumption behavior is directed towards synthetic additives instead of natural products, says Jari.
– On the other hand, I understand that we are trying to make people live healthier, but then there are people like me who cannot use products sweetened with sweeteners, and we then have to pay more. Otherwise, it’s already difficult to find products without sweeteners, one reader thinks.
– They are trying to steer consumers too much with the sugar tax. I myself am particularly sensitive to artificial sweeteners, and I get, for example, nausea and dizziness from aspartame, says Club.
– Even though the payment is small and I rarely buy, the situation is unfortunate. Again, people who are not allergic or sensitive to sweeteners by their own will suffer. At the same time, sweeteners are being normalized, one reader argues.
– I’m going to stop buying, good luck with the fucking government, fuck off Jaska.
“Good basics”
Some readers are happy about the tax change.
One reader believes that the change will easily generate tax revenue and have a positive effect on public health.
– This tax is targeted well and there are good reasons for it, says Jesse.
– The teeth thank you, he says for his part Pekka.
Helena states that the change does not hurt, because such drinks are vanity.
– That’s right! Prefer to increase more sugar-free and energy drinks, because they cause health problems. What about in the future, when the slush just continues. I don’t want to be paying those costs when other drinks are available and cheap, he reasons Washing machine.
One reader thinks it’s a tax increase that won’t hurt the quality of life for any consumer.
– Not for families with children, students, pensioners, the sick or those in a vulnerable position. Doesn’t affect my spending habits in any way.
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This is how prices changed overnight
Sugar-free soft drinks: the tax will rise to 20 cents per liter. In addition to sugar-free soft drinks, this applies to e.g. Vichy, mineral waters and sugar-free energy drinks. Previously, the tax was 13 cents per liter.
In addition, the soft drink tax for unsweetened and unflavored waters and mineral waters is also levied on beverages packed in a retail package of more than five liters.
Soft drinks containing sugar: the amount of tax is now 27, 35, 43, 51 or 59 cents per liter depending on the sugar content of the drink. For example, the excise tax on orange lemonade is now 59 cents per liter, while it was 32 cents before.
Alcoholic drinks: the alcohol tax on only low-alcohol drinks will be increased. The tax increase applies to mild fermented beverages containing 1.2–2.8 percent alcohol.
Plant-based drinks: the conditions for tax exemption are supplemented by a requirement for a minimum calcium content. In addition, the taxation of beverages based on leguminous plants will be harmonised.