The new version of the project, which increases taxes and introduces new ones, also provides for an excise tax on sugar, which will be effective from October 1.

It should be noted that this is a project, that is, no decision has been made.

This concerns:

1. soft drinks with added sugar, for which the total sugar level is from 5 g to 8 g/100 ml: 40 lei/hl.

2. soft drinks with added sugar, for which the total sugar level exceeds 8 g/100 ml: 60 lei/hl.

Added sugar, according to the draft, refers to cane sugar, brown sugar, crystalline sucrose, invert sugar, dextrose, molasses, honey sugar, molasses and syrups such as malt syrup, fruit syrup, rice malt syrup, corn syrup, syrup with high fructose content. corn syrup, maple syrup, glucose syrup, glucose-fructose, fructose, sucrose, glucose, lactose, hydrolyzed lactose and galactose, added as ingredients, sugars in nectars such as coconut flower nectar, date nectar, agave nectar, unsweetened sugars fruit juices, fruit juice concentrate, sugar from fruit purees and jam.

No matter how expensive soft drinks are

The National Association of Soft Drinks (ANBR), which brings together the largest producers of soft drinks in Romania, says it will see a 15-25% increase in prices.

This is the average price of a liter on the shelf.

He also warns that an excise tax on soft drinks, especially among young people, could lead to an increase in alcohol consumption, as well as an increase in the black market, which would have negative consequences for Romanian consumers, the public budget and the soft drinks industry.

“Our sector is already being punished by the so-called sugar tax, disguised as an increase in the VAT rate from 9% to 19%, which will apply from January 1 only to our industry, regardless of whether it is soft drinks with or without sugar. . This new proposed tax is a deeply discriminatory measure that once again targets soft drinks while ignoring similar sugar content in foods,” said Alice Nichita, President of ANBR.

According to her, consumers may end up preferring cheaper and lower-quality options or even alcohol, exacerbating the already alarming problem of alcohol consumption among Romanians.

“An additional tax – regardless of its form – will not bring additional revenues to the state budget, but on the contrary, will additionally burden industries that have survived the crises of recent years, and will have a multiplier effect, negatively affecting the consumer and the economy as a whole,” she also stated .

ANBR also shows that currently alcoholic beverages such as cider or wine are not subject to excise duty in Romania.

“The soft drinks market has already shrunk by more than 6% in the first 6 months of this year as a result of the VAT increase. In this context, the additional tax will lead to a cumulative drop in volumes of approximately 15%. This will lead to reduced sales along the entire value chain, from sugar beet farmers in Romania to shops, bars and restaurants,” the association said.