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U.K. Expands Sugar Levy to Milk-Based Drinks — Milkshakes, Flavoured Milks and Some Coffees Included

The U.K. has expanded its sugar levy to include milk-based drinks — including milkshakes, flavoured milks, sweetened yoghurt drinks, chocolate milk and certain coffees — and firms must comply by January 2028.

First introduced in 2018, the levy encouraged manufacturers to reduce sugar or reformulate products; the updated guidance lowers the lower-rate threshold from 5g to 4.5g per 100ml. Public-health research suggests the policy has reduced obesity in children, and officials expect further product reformulation as the levy’s scope grows.

08:09 AM, 11/30/2025Health

London — The U.K. is widening its sugar levy to cover a broader range of beverages, now including milk-based drinks such as milkshakes, flavoured milks, sweetened yoghurt drinks, chocolate milk and certain coffees. Manufacturers and importers will have until January 2028 to comply with the new rules.

"Actually, in the U.K., it's the main reason why children would be admitted to hospital," said Dr. Kawther Hashem, a nutritionist who campaigned for the levy.

First introduced in 2018, the levy operates on a two-tier system that charges manufacturers for drinks with elevated sugar content. The policy prompted many companies to reformulate products and reduce sugar rather than pass costs on to consumers; as a result, many U.K. versions of branded drinks now differ from identically labelled products sold elsewhere because some sugar has been replaced with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.

What changes

Under the updated guidance, the lower threshold for the levy will be reduced from 5 grams to 4.5 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. The government emphasized that the charge is levied on manufacturers and importers and expects firms to respond to the extension by cutting sugar in affected products.

Researchers point to measurable public-health benefits: a 2023 University of Cambridge study estimated the levy prevents roughly 5,000 cases of obesity a year among 10- and 11-year-old girls alone.

"If we're comparing junk food to junk food, automatically in the U.K. you're going to get a healthier version of what's available to you in the United States," said Jules Dunlop, an American mother living in the British countryside. She added that the lower-sugar baseline has improved her energy levels and skin.

Some U.S. cities have adopted local sugar taxes, but without a national policy it is unlikely U.S. manufacturers will reformulate drink recipes on the same scale. The extension of the levy signals continued government action to curb excess sugar consumption and reduce related health harms.

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