Non-alcoholic beverages with added sugar or sweeteners will be subject to a new consumer tax as of next year, according to the Act on Sweetened Beverages Tax approved by Parliament on Wednesday.
Exempt from the new tax will be sweetened milk drinks, yogurt drinks and vegetable-based drinks, as well as beverages sold by pharmacies as medications, nutritional supplements such as soluble vitamin tablets and protein drinks with added sugar or sweeteners.
The tax rate will equal €0.15 per litre for beverages with sugars or sweeteners and €0.30 per litre for energy drinks.
In light of the high deficit in public finances and the enormous debt of Slovakia, this measure is proposed as part of the consolidation effort. It is expected that the new tax will bring more than €79 million to state coffers in 2025, €108 million in 2026 and €110 million in 2027.
The legislation will come into effect as of January 1, 2025.
Source: TASR