LISBON: A tax on sugary drinks in Portugal comes into effect 1 February, due to a new budget law that aims to raise €80 million this year.
Non-alcoholic beverages, including mineral, flavoured, and aerated waters, with added sugar or other sweeteners will be taxed, as well as beverages containing 0.5-1.2% of alcohol (such as wines made from fresh grapes, vermouth, cider and mead). All proceeds will go to the National Health System.
A bottle of soft drink will be €0.15 more expensive if it has a sugar content of up to 80 grams per litre and its price will increase by €0.30 if the sugar content is above that value. Portugal’s parliament approved the tax on 25 November last year.
The Portuguese Non-Alcoholic Refreshment Beverages Association (PROBEB) considers the sugar and soft drink tax a ‘discriminatory’ measure, warning that it may threaten the sustainability of the industry due to the fiscal differences with Spain.
In a statement to the Lusa news agency, the association said it’s committed to reducing the caloric content of soft drinks between 2013 and 2020 by at least 25%, adding that the reduction had already reached 10.7% by the end of 2015.
Products will be subject to VAT from €8.22/hectolitre for beverages with a sugar content of less than 80 grams/litre and €16.46/hectolitre for beverages with a sugar content equal to or greater than that limit.
