Sugar Tax: Catering outlets across campus to raise drinks prices

The ‘Sugar Tax’, expected since the Conservative 2016 budget, begins today.

The tax sees drinks with 5g of sugar per 100ml taxed at 18p a litre, and drinks with 8g per 100ml taxed at 24p per litre.

The intent of the tax is to persuade popular drinks brands to reduce the amount of sugar in their beverages, leading to Sprite to halve their sugar content, Lucozade to reduce their sugar content by 65%, and Ribena to reduce their content by 54%.

Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Red Bull have not altered their sugar content nationwide, leading to higher prices.

On the University of Kent campus, Kent Hospitality outlets such as Mungo’s, Dolche Vita, Hut 8 and Origins will be raising the prices of the following drinks by £0.12 to reflect the recent changes in tax:

• 7 Up
• Cherry Coke
• Coca Cola
• Pepsi
• Red Bull