On Monday, a group in charge of deciding taxes in India agreed to raise the tax on fizzy drinks to 35% from 28%. This change is aimed at making unhealthy items that are often linked to health problems, like cigarettes and tobacco, more expensive. The final choice about these new taxes will be made by a meeting of top government officials on December 21.
Right now, India has four tax levels: 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. The new 35% rate will be added for these unhealthy items. Currently, items that are considered necessary, like food, either have no tax or a very low tax, while luxury items, like cars and washing machines, have higher taxes. The proposal would also mean a special rate of 35% on tobacco products and fizzy drinks.
The news about higher taxes caused the shares of Varun Beverages, a major partner with PepsiCo in India, to fall by over 5%. Most of their money comes from selling fizzy drinks, which have been struggling because of the high taxes. Despite this, their shares have shown some growth over the last month and six months.
A report showed that the high taxes in India make it hard for carbonated drinks to grow and reach their full business potential. Comparisons by the World Bank reveal that India has one of the highest total tax rates on sugary drinks, standing at 40% in 2023