There will be changes to the soft drink tax on Wednesday, April 1.
Starting tomorrow, the price of orange lemonade will be higher. Elle Laitila
Finns consume almost 340 million liters of soft drinks every year.
Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, the tax on soft drinks will be tiered into six tax levels based on sugar content.
The conditions for the tax exemption of plant-based drinks are supplemented by a requirement for a minimum calcium content. In addition, the taxation of beverages based on leguminous plants will be harmonised.
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 drink tax will be increased. The tax on sugar-free drinks will rise to 20 cents per liter. The amount of tax on drinks containing sugar is 27, 35, 43, 51 or 59 cents per liter, depending on the sugar content of the drink.
In addition, the alcohol tax on drinks with only a small amount of alcohol will be increased. The tax increase applies to mild fermented beverages containing 1.2–2.8 percent alcohol.
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This is how prices change (excise tax):
Vichy 13 -> 20 cents/litre
Bottled spring water 13 -> 20 cents per liter
Orange lemonade 32 -> 59 cents per liter
Energy drink, sugar-free 13 -> 20 cents per liter
Bubbly juice drink 32 -> 43 cents per liter
Coke, sugar-free 13 -> 20 cents per liter
The increase that will come into force now is already the ninth since the excise tax was introduced in 2011. The reform will increase the tax burden of the domestic soft drink industry in terms of excise taxes alone to 324 million euros per year. Lauri Pajunen
The Brewery and Soft Drink Industry Association states in its press release that one of the highest value added taxes in Europe is levied on beverages in Finland. According to it, the reform will increase the tax burden of the domestic soft drink industry to 324 million euros per year in terms of excise duties alone.