On Thursday, the Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s parliament, passed an amendment to the public health law that raises the sugar levy on beverages. The bill now goes to the Senate.
A total of 233 lawmakers voted for the bill, 76 voted against and 128 abstained. Earlier, lawmakers voted down a motion by the Confederation party to reject the bill.
The main aim of the changes is to raise the sugar levy rates. The fixed fee for sugar content of up to 5 grams per 100 ml of a beverage, or for the presence of any amount of at least one sweetener, will rise from 50 to 70 groszy per liter. The variable fee for each gram of sugar above 5 grams per 100 ml will double, from 5 to 10 groszy.
In addition, the maximum fee per liter of a beverage will rise from PLN 1.20 to PLN 1.80. The largest increase, a tenfold one, will hit the fee for caffeine or taurine content. It will rise from 10 groszy to PLN 1 per liter.
The amendment extends the levy to highly sweetened fruit syrups that contain trace amounts of juice and are sold as dietary supplements, except for products in packages of up to 200 ml (for example, immune-support or cough syrups). The levy will also apply to beverages containing at least 20% juice and up to 5 grams of sugar if they contain added sweeteners, caffeine or taurine.
The levy is also to cover all concentrates, whether liquid, semi-liquid or solid. A single rate of PLN 3 per liter or kilogram will be introduced for concentrates.
The new rules would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
In mid-December 2025, President Karol Nawrocki vetoed similar legislation, arguing that, in line with his campaign promises, he would not sign any bill that raises taxes. “Instead of closing loopholes in the tax system, the government is reaching into citizens’ pockets. A tax of as much as PLN 3.60 on a two-liter drink or juice is a real blow to household budgets,” the president explained.
The vetoed provisions were meant to raise the sugar levy in order to discourage people from buying sweet and energy drinks, and thereby curb obesity and diabetes, among other things. The fee rates were to be raised, among other changes, from PLN 0.50 to PLN 0.70 per liter of a beverage with sugar of up to 5 g per liter or with a sweetener, and from PLN 0.10 to PLN 1.00 for added caffeine or taurine.
The vetoed bill also included provisions raising the tax on winnings in contests, games and betting, or on prizes tied to promotional sales, from 10% to 15%. (PAP)
Sejm Passes Bill Increasing Alcohol Excise Hikes in 2027
On Thursday, the Sejm passed a bill that will increase the scale of excise tax hikes on alcoholic beverages in 2027. The additional revenue is to go to the National Health Fund (NFZ).
A total of 377 lawmakers voted for the new rules, 59 voted against and one abstained. Earlier, lawmakers backed an amendment reducing the scale of the excise hike on cider and perry. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Under the new rules, the excise rate on ethyl alcohol will rise from PLN 8,811 to PLN 10,109 per hectoliter of 100% alcohol. For beer, it will rise from PLN 12.04 to PLN 13.82 per hectoliter for each degree Plato. For wine and other fermented beverages, it will rise from PLN 245 to PLN 280.83 per hectoliter, and for intermediate products from PLN 490 to PLN 562.93 per hectoliter. The excise rate on cider and perry with an alcohol content of up to 5% will rise from PLN 97 to PLN 116.4 per hectoliter.
The bill also stipulates that the additional funds generated by the increase will be transferred to the National Health Fund. Because the scale of the increase will not be known until 2028, which will allow the data to be used in drawing up the 2029 budget, the subsidy to the NFZ is to be increased next year and in 2028, with a settlement to follow.
The amendment to the excise tax law and the law on publicly funded health care services would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. (PAP)
Sejm Votes to End Reduced VAT on Energy Drinks With Juice, Among Others
On Thursday, the Sejm passed a bill that eliminates the reduced VAT rate on non-alcoholic beverages that are equivalents of alcoholic drinks, as well as on energy drinks containing juice. The bill now goes to the Senate.
A total of 233 lawmakers voted for the amendment to the law on goods and services tax, 74 voted against and 133 abstained.
The new rules raise the VAT rate to 23% on certain non-alcoholic beverages that contain at least 20% fruit, vegetable or fruit-and-vegetable juice. That is an increase from 5% in retail trade and 8% in food service.
The change is to cover: non-alcoholic beverages with an alcohol by volume above 0.0% (up to 0.5% alcohol); non-alcoholic beer with an alcohol by volume of 0.0%; non-alcoholic beverages other than beer that are produced through dealcoholization or by halting alcoholic fermentation, with an alcohol by volume of 0.0%, such as wine or cider; and beverages with added caffeine or taurine.
The amendment would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. (PAP)
