Sugar tax effectiveness debated in Poland and Ireland

Discussions regarding sugar taxes in Poland and Ireland highlight the effectiveness and limitations of fiscal policies in combating obesity. In Poland, a sugar tax implemented in 2021 has prompted significant product reformulation. Research presented by Professor Monika Raulinajtys-Grzybek at the 2nd European Summit on Cancer Prevention and Control shows that the share of beverages containing more than 5 grams of sugar per 100 ml dropped from 70% to 44%, with 62% of analyzed products undergoing reformulation.

However, the impact on consumer behavior remains limited. In Poland, the tax accounts for only about 6% of the price of cola and 4% of energy drinks, a margin that may not influence purchasing decisions, especially as inflation erodes the impact of non-indexed tax rates.

In Ireland, researchers are proposing an expansion of the existing sugar tax on sweetened beverages to include confectionery, sweets, chocolate, and certain biscuits. Following the 2018 introduction of the beverage tax in Ireland, major brands such as Pepsi, 7Up, Fanta, Sprite, and Club Orange modified their recipes to fall below tax thresholds. Previous studies commissioned by the Department of Health indicated that sugar consumption from carbonated drinks fell by approximately 20-30% following the tax implementation.