Sugar tax dodge

WHEN the sugar tax was introduced last year, the aim was to encourage consumers to switch to diet products to help reduce obesity.

Those of us involved in the soft drinks business knew that something very different would happen. Importers of soft drinks from Europe are selling high sugar content drinks and calling them diet.

The sugar tax on a case of 24 cans of a regular soft drink is £1.92, so you can see the potential profit when a full truck can hold just under 3,000 cases. Unscrupulous companies are bringing in up to 100 truckloads each week and making a fortune. Imagine the loss of revenue to the Treasury in unpaid sugar tax.

I have had conversations with HMRC on this issue, but, regrettably, it does not seem interested. Legitimate companies which obey the law are the ones that suffer.

BILL HArVISON, Gaulby, Leics.