New tax on sweetened soft drinks generated more revenue than planned

The tax on sweetened soft drinks introduced in January 2025 generated €98.6m for the state budget last year, exceeding the planned €80m. The Finance Ministry had expected higher stockpiling in the initial months. Traditional sweetened beverages accounted for nearly three-quarters of revenue, followed by energy drinks and syrups. Sales of sugary drinks fell 14% annually overall, with syrups posting the steepest decline, while energy drinks recorded a slight increase. Beverage prices rose by 25%, significantly outpacing the tax burden.

(IFP)