IFP: Sugary Drink Consumption Down 12 Percent After New Tax Introduced

Bratislava, 10 August (TASR) – Since the introduction of the new tax, the consumption of sugary drinks in Slovakia dropped by approximately 12 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year, with some consumers shifting towards smaller packaging, the Financial Policy Institute (IFP) under the Finance Ministry has reported on social media. The IFP pointed out that the new tax on sugary drinks was introduced in Slovakia as of January 2025, aiming to increase state revenues and indirectly support public health. While the sale of traditional sugary beverages declined by 12 percent and syrups by 15 percent, energy drinks saw a 7 percent increase. The impact on consumption was calculated by the IFP based on data from the eKasa system, analysing the ten largest retail chains in Slovakia by comparing data from January to June 2024 and 2025. The institute also noted that the price of sugary drinks rose beyond the level of the new tax, particularly in the case of traditional sugary beverages. "In January, immediately after the tax was introduced, the average price per litre of traditional sugary drinks rose by 24 percent month-on-month, which roughly matched the additional tax burden. By June, however, the price was 46 percent higher compared to December 2024," added the IFP. mf/am