Sugar tax bites as drinks makers change recipes to keep prices sweet

Drinks like 7Up and Britvic Indian Tonic Water might see prices pushed up for consumers
Drinks like 7Up and Britvic Indian Tonic Water might see prices pushed up for consumers

The Government’s sugar tax has prompted the makers of most leading soft drinks to cut sugar, Telegraph analysis has found.

The vast majority of soft drinks and dilutable squashes sold in the UK will avoid the sugar tax, which comes in on Friday, according to a survey of major drink brands and supermarkets.

Since the policy was announced, more than half of all soft drinks have been reformulated to lower their sugar content, the Treasury has revealed.

Exceptions which will be hit by the new tax and therefore rise in price, include classic Coca-Cola, Pepsi, 7Up and Britvic Indian Tonic Water.

Under the so-called “Soft Drinks Industry Levy”, which is designed to cut obesity, drinks with a total sugar...

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