Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday signed a law introducing a tax on sugary drinks, energy drinks and small alcoholic beverages.
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The development is in an attempt to shape healthier consumer behaviour, the president’s chancellery said.
In line with the new law, which will take effect in 2021, beverages containing sugar or sweeteners will have to be taxed 0.5 zloty (0.13 dollars) per litre.
Additional fees will be imposed on beverages containing caffeine or taurine, such as energy drinks, and those which contain more than five grammes of sugar per 100ml.
Sellers of alcohol in bottles of up to 300ml will have to pay 25 zloty per litre of pure alcohol sold.
The tax does not apply to alcoholic beverages sold in restaurants or bars.
The sale of flavoured alcoholic beverages in small bottles, called ‘malpki’ (little monkeys), has flourished in the country in recent years, to the dismay of alcoholism prevention experts.
Revenues from the new taxes will be directed primarily to the National Health Fund as well as local governments.
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