Proposed Sugar Levy Changes Will Ensure Reformulation of Soft Drinks
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 16 October 2025 10:27
- Written by News Editor
- Hits: 509
The Treasury is consulting on plans to tighten the Soft Drinks Industry Levy by lowering the starting threshold from 5g to 4g of sugar per 100ml — a move that could significantly affect major brands such as Ribena and Lucozade.
Suntory, the Japanese-owned drinks manufacturer behind both brands, has warned that the proposed change could trigger a second costly reformulation process. Elise Seibold, Chief Operating Officer for Suntory GB and Ireland, said the revision would equate to an additional £60 million in tax liability and “create major disruption for very little credible health gain.” She added that the company may reconsider tens of millions of pounds of planned UK investment, including upgrades to its Gloucestershire factory, if the change goes ahead.
The proposed reform would be expected to feature in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ forthcoming budget announcement. Ribena, currently containing 4.5g of sugar per 100ml, would fall within the new taxable range, despite having already been reformulated in 2018 when the original levy came into effect.
Introduced in 2018 as part of the UK Government’s Childhood Obesity Strategy, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy places a 24p per litre charge on drinks containing more than 8g of sugar per 100ml, and 18p per litre on those with 5–8g per 100ml. Products below the threshold are exempt. The measure has been widely credited with prompting substantial reformulation across the soft drinks sector, leading to a 47% reduction in average sugar content between 2015 and 2024.
For dental professionals, the proposed adjustment is of particular relevance. Further reductions in sugar levels across popular beverages could help sustain the downward trend in dental caries, particularly among young consumers. However, the debate also highlights tensions between public health policy and industry economics — and the ongoing need for evidence-based strategies to reduce free sugar intake in the population.
However, dental professionals know that even the tiniest amount of sucrose in food or drinks lowers the mouth pH for some time, so even a small reformulation still makes these lower sugar drinks likely to cause tooth decay.
You need to be logged in to leave comments.
Report
My comments