Finnish Government OKs Higher Tax on Soft Drinks, Mined Minerals

Finland is moving to increase taxation of soft drinks and mined minerals under proposals approved Thursday by the government and submitted for parliamentary approval.

For soft drinks, two tax tiers of 13 euro cents (15 cents) per liter for sugar-free drinks and 32 euro cents per liter for drinks with added sugar would be replaced with six tiers ranging from 20 euro cents to 59 euro cents per liter.

Taxation of mild fermented beverages with alcohol content of between 1.2% and 2.8% would also increase to 50 euro cents per liter, from 36 euro cents, under the proposal. ...