The UK Sugar Tax and Vending Machines
UK Sugar Tax on Soft Drinks
With the introduction of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy or Sugar Tax in the UK in April 2018, many clients are asking us how this will affect their vending machines.
So what is the UK Sugar Tax?
The Sugar Tax in the UK will be paid by manufacturers or importers of soft drinks, not by the seller or vendor. It is only on products containing more than 5g of sugar per 100 ml of drink, and some manufacturers have already reformulated their drinks to keep sugar levels below this.
There are two rates – 18p per litre if the drink has 5g of sugar or more per 100ml, and 24p per litre if the drink has 8g of sugar or more per 100ml. Pure fruit juices which do not contain added sugar are exempt, as are drinks containing 75{afdf378c22ea5ce946e5b0a7109e8837c9811d2ff635343a88b4f13ece98f145} or more of milk, and diet or sugar-free drinks.
There is more information on this on the UK government’s website here – www.gov.uk/guidance/soft-drinks-industry-levy
So companies with vending machines will not pay the tax directly, but they may find prices of some sugary drinks do increase, depending on their sugar content, and whether manufacturers chose to pass on the cost of the tax.
UK Sugar Tax – How are commercial Vending Services helping you?
At Commercial Vending Services, we already stock a range of Britvic’s sugar-free drinks at all the sites we service, including Tango Free, 7Up Free, Pepsi Max Original, Cherry and Ginger. These have been well received by our customers, and at our in-house taste tests, so we congratulate Britvic on their sugar-free drinks range.
UK Sugar Tax & Vending Machines – What Do I Do Next?
Call us today on 01623 883010 / 07539 935111 to discuss how Commercial Vending Services Ltd can tailor the perfect vending solution for all your business requirements backed by our 24/7 fast-track service guarantee.
Alternatively, contact us direct by email: enquiries@commercialvendingservices.co.uk or by using our Customer Service Contact Form.
