Morocco Raises Taxes on Sugary Drinks to Curb Consumption and Improve Health

For the second time in two years, these beverages are experiencing an increase in the consumption tax. Thus, after the 50% increase last year, the government has moved to a new increase ranging from 10 to 30 dirhams per hectoliter on carbonated beverages containing less than 5 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters.

As for carbonated beverages containing between 5 and 10 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, there is an increase between 12.5 and 40 dirhams per hectoliter, while for those with more than 10 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, prices have increased by 15 to 45 dirhams per hectoliter.

According to LesEcos, the price increase experienced by these beverages takes into account the monitoring of the evolution of Moroccans’ consumption habits by experts. It is noted that Moroccans are considerably reducing their consumption of carbonated beverages and industrial juices. These beverages, in reality, contain large amounts of sugar that expose to diseases. As for the volume of domestic consumption, the factories have reduced their production by nearly a third, it is down by 30%, with a decrease in consumption of about 70 million liters.

It should be recalled that the increase in the domestic consumption tax last year led to the largest increase in the prices of non-alcoholic beverages and industrial juices in the last 20 years, the same source specifies.