Poles fume over price of co*ke after new sugar tax (2024)

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has moved quickly to slap down the idea that he's just out on a cash grab.

“Is it possible that for a budget like ours, half a billion (€110 million) or a billion [złoty more] might justify a fiscal purpose?” he asked during a Facebook question-and-answer session. “Sugar is unhealthy,” he added. “The majority of mature countries in the world have introduced this tax. Do we want to be an immature country?"

The new levy hits drinks containing sugar and sweeteners as well as caffeine, such as co*ke, heavily sweetened fruit juices and energy drinks. It’s comprised of two parts: a fixed payment of 0.50 złoty (11 cents) per liter and a variable payment that depends on the amount of sugar.There's an additional payment of 0.10 złoty (2 cents) per liter for all drinks containing caffeine.

Polish consumers are quick to point out that this is making their drinks unusually costly. Analysis by Crédit Agricole shows that the new levy increases the price of sweet drinks — depending on their size and sugar content — by up to 35 percent. Popular drinks, such as Fanta and Coca-Cola, are among the most affected.Local media are reporting that, in some shops, Coca-Cola is 40 percent more expensive.

Six out of 10 Poles don't approve of the new levy, and half believe that the tax is a tool to boost the country's budget rather than improve their health, according to a survey by Zymetria, a consultancy, published before the new rules entered into force.

Their concerns are echoed by the country's businesses. "The motives of this tax are clearly fiscal," said Sławomir Dudek, economist-in-chief of Pracodawcy RP, a trade association of employers. "The promises were made before the general election, and the new tax was announced only after the vote," he said.

Poles fume over price of co*ke after new sugar tax (2024)

FAQs

Poles fume over price of co*ke after new sugar tax? ›

Polish consumers are quick to point out that this is making their drinks unusually costly. Analysis by Crédit Agricole shows that the new levy increases the price of sweet drinks — depending on their size and sugar content — by up to 35 percent. Popular drinks, such as Fanta and Coca-Cola, are among the most affected.

Why has the price of soda skyrocketed? ›

The Atlanta-based giant, whose brands include Powerade, Fanta and Minute Maid, said that the increase in prices across a mix of its products was 9% in the fourth quarter, more than analysts expected. Quincey said the rise was largely driven by hyperinflation in certain parts of the world.

How much is Coca Cola in Poland? ›

zł4. 89 (tax incl.)

How much is the sugar tax Poland? ›

The fixed component amounts to PLN 0.50 for the content of sugars in an amount equal to or less than 5 g in 100 ml of beverage or for the content of at least one sweetener (in any amount), In turn, the variable component of the fee amounts to PLN 0.05 for each gram of sugar above 5g/100ml, expressed per litre.

Have soda sales gone down? ›

Sales of sugary drinks fell dramatically across five U.S. cities, after they implemented taxes targeting those drinks – and those changes were sustained over time. That's according to a study published Friday in the journal JAMA Health Forum.

Why are 20 oz sodas so expensive? ›

The 20-ounce bottle is usually an impulse-bought, chilled, grab-and-go product; where consumers demand is inelastic (insensitive to price and will buy at whatever price). Manufacturers can therefore impose high retail prices.

Why has co*ke stock gone up so much? ›

co*ke is squeezing the most out of its slower growth profile, though, and that's great news for shareholders. Non-GAAP earnings jumped a healthy 16% in 2023 thanks to a combination of cost cuts, rising prices, and higher demand for non-core beverages like sparkling waters and energy drinks.

Where is the cheapest Coca-Cola in the world? ›

A cup of co*ke—or Sprite, or Thums Up—sold at Rs5 ($0.07) in rural Gujarat of western India is the “cheapest, most accessible co*ke you can probably buy in the world,” James Quincey, the company's president and chief operating officer, told investors earlier this month.

What country is Coca-Cola sold the most in? ›

Mexicans are the largest consumers of co*ke, and consumers in the country drink 745 co*ke beverages a year. After “o*k”, “Coca-Cola” is the second most-known phrase in the world. Coca-Cola has a product portfolio exceeding 3,500 beverages and 500 brands.

What country is Coca-Cola most expensive? ›

Price Rankings by Country of co*ke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) (Restaurants)
1.Switzerland4.66 $
2.Denmark3.90 $
3.Luxembourg3.18 $
4.Norway3.01 $
5.Austria3.01 $
91 more rows

What is the sugar tax in the US? ›

At least eight US jurisdictions and 50 countries have implemented a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, also known as a soda tax, in the last several years with a goal to reduce the purchase and consumption of sodas, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened coffee drinks—all of which are leading sources of ...

Is there a sugar tax in Germany? ›

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends taxes on sugary soft drinks (SSBs) to reduce cardiometabolic disorders by increasing costs or by industry reforms to reduce sugar content. However, Germany has no SSB tax and is preparing a new strategy for food policy until 2050.

What is tax 12% in Poland? ›

The 12% rate is used if the tax base does not exceed PLN 120 000. The 32% rate is used if the tax based exceeds this amount. The tax 12 % is additionally reduced by a degressive tax-reducing amount 3600 zl. The types of income taxed in this manner include: income from employment, old-age pension or economic activity.

Who sells more co*ke or Pepsi? ›

Coca-Cola was established first, in 1886, while Pepsi was established in 1893. Which brand currently dominates the market share worldwide, co*ke or Pepsi? As of 2021, co*ke dominates the market share worldwide with a share of around 48%, while Pepsi has a share of approximately 20.5%.

What sodas are Coca-Cola getting rid of? ›

Fruit punch, green apple, red apple, wild cherry, mango and maybe another one. Only see berry, peach, grape, strawberry, orange and pineapple now. Most of those flavors are no longer made. Mango and Cherry were part of the big 2020 purge, but other Fanta flavors have quietly disappeared.

Is Dr Pepper owned by co*ke or Pepsi? ›

Strangely, Dr Pepper is only owned by Coca Cola in its European and South Korean markets. Everywhere else it is sold is managed by the Keurig Dr Pepper company.

Why has the cost of soda increased by 25 in the last year? ›

This is due to a number of factors, including supply chain disruptions, the war in Ukraine, and bad weather. Soda companies have to pass on these higher costs to consumers in order to maintain their profit margins. Inflation: Inflation has been rising rapidly in the last year.

Why is there a soda shortage? ›

Supply chain disruptions, increased demand, or changes in production processes may contribute to shortages in these essential components, impacting soda production. Economic and environmental factors can also play a role in shaping the dynamics of the chemical industry, affecting the availability of soda ingredients.

Why did Pepsi prices increase? ›

PepsiCo has pointed to higher costs for grain and cooking oil as it has raised prices. Costs for those food commodities surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine but have since retreated on global markets from record highs in 2022.

How much has Coca-Cola gone up in price? ›

While overall global unit case volume growth has been modest, up only 2% in 2023 after 5% growth in 2022, what the company has shown is a lot of pricing power. Price and mix accounted for 10% growth in 2023 and 11% in 2022.

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