Milkshakes and lattes are just some of the drinks that could be covered under the sugar tax following new government proposals.
Running until July 2025, the government is currently consulting on changes to the sugar tax – formally known as the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL).
Ministers also want to lower the minimum amount of sugar allowed before the tax is applied.
The proposed amendments include:
- To reduce the minimum sugar content at which the SDIL applies to qualifying drinks from 5g to 4g. The SDIL standard rate would apply from 4g to 7.9g total sugar per 100ml, as opposed to 5g to 7.9g total sugar per 100ml currently
- To remove the exemption for milk-based drinks while introducing a ‘lactose allowance’ to account for the natural sugars in the milk component of these drinks
- To remove the exemption for milk substitute drinks with ‘added sugars’ beyond those sugars derived from the principal ingredient, such as oats or rice.
If introduced, this would mean pre-packaged drinks that are made up of at least 75% milk – including dairy-free alternatives – would fall under the tax.
Impact of sugar
Since its announcement in 2016, the SDIL has successfully led to a 46% reduction in the sugar in soft drinks in scope of the levy, according to government statistics. However, UK sugar intakes remain around double the recommended levels.
More than eight in 10 people (84%) in the UK eat at least one sugary snack per day, according to research on sugar consumption by the Oral Health Foundation (OHF) last year.
A further 79% said they consumed up to three sugary snacks each day. Six in 10 (62%) respondents said their sugar intake came from food, including sweets, desserts and processed foods. Drinks such as tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages and fizzy drinks were contributing to 45% of respondents’ sugar intake.
Only 13% of those surveyed were taking active steps to reduce their sugar consumption. The OHF dubbed this ‘alarming’, and called for new measures to combat the impact of sugar on dental health.
Baby food ‘more sugary than Coca-Cola’
This comes as recent market analysis found ‘grotesque levels of sugar’ in of the baby food industry.
The research, which included 209 products aimed at children under 12 months, found that more than a quarter had higher sugar content by volume than Coca-Cola. Some pouches contained up to 184% of the sugar found in the soft drink – and were marketed to infants as young as four months.
As a result, dentists have urged the government to confront the sugar levels and misleading packaging claims.
Dental hygienist Sejal Patel comments: ‘Excessive sugar intake from an early age not only impacts immediate dental health but also influences long-term taste preferences, making children more likely to crave sweet foods later in life. This habit increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and further dental issues as they grow.’
‘Moreover, some baby food pouches may lack essential nutrients crucial for healthy development.
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