Drinks firms battle against ‘cash-grab’ sugar tax proposal

Soft drinks companies are arguing that the new sugar tax represents a “cash-grab” on the 40 per cent of people who are neither overweight nor obese.

The government is proposing that the price of a two-litre soft drink bottle be increased by around €1.20 through the tax, which is part of government efforts to tackle obesity. One in four children is either overweight or obese.

However, according to the Irish Beverage Council, which ...