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Written question asked by Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 November 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 December 2025. It was answered by Lord Livermore (Labour) on Thursday, 11 December 2025 on behalf of the Treasury.


Soft Drinks: Taxation

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on small drink manufacturers, including administrative burdens, of the proposed changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, including its extension to milk-based and plant-based drinks and the lowering of the sugar threshold to 4.5 g per 100 ml.

Answer

The changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) confirmed at the Budget in November 2025 were informed by the ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation, which was open from 28 April to 21 July 2025. Representations from small manufacturers, and the trade bodies representing them, were received and considered as part of this process.

On 25 November 2025, the government published its summary of responses to the consultation, including a full assessment of the impacts of the announced policy changes to the levy. This is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-soft-drinks-industry-levy/outcome/strengthening-the-soft-drinks-industry-levy-summary-of-responses


The smallest producers, producing less than a million litres a year, will remain exempt from the SDIL.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL12412
Session
2024-26
Attachment
PDF
Subjects
Milk Taxation Soft drinks
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk