Rules by country / Americas / Colombia sugar tax 2026
Colombia sugar tax 2026: what it costs each drink, and what to do
Sugary drinks pay COP 40 or 68 per 100ml in 2026, by added sugar, and ultra-processed foods pay 20%. The drink rates rise every January. We work out the cost for every product and the most profitable response.
At the 2026 rates (DIAN Resolution 0247 of 2025): COP 40 and 68 per 100ml, or 400 and 680 a litre.
A sugar tax review for Colombia
What the taxes cost each product, and the most profitable response, with a price plan for each retailer.
- The tax on every drink and food product, at this year's rates
- Pass on, absorb or cut sugar: the most profitable choice for each product, and how sure we are
- The most a recipe change can cost and still pay
- A price plan for each retailer, and an Excel model to update each January
How your results look
| Product | Added sugar per 100ml | Tax | Our advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cola, 330ml can | 10.6g | COP 224 a can | Pass on in full |
| Juice drink, 1 litre | 7g | COP 400 a pack | Absorb part of it |
| Flavoured water, 500ml | 4g | No tax | Hold the price |
Fictional products. Every real result comes with the expected sales and profit, and a likely range.
Your options
Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.
Sugar tax review
- The tax and best choice for each product
- Price plan for each retailer
- Scenario model and a walk-through
Pricing review with the tax
- Everything in the tax review
- Prices and promotions for the whole range
- How your products take sales from each other
Portfolio review
- Everything in the pricing review
- More retailers and data sources
- A plan for each channel
After the project: a refresh before each pricing round, from £2,000 (about COP 8.5 million). Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in Colombian pesos are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
How it works
From the first call to your plan in about three weeks.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us about your range. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Sales by product and retailer, recipes and costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
The tax on every product, the best choice and a price plan, walked through with your team.
Colombia sugar tax: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Drinks in 2026
- COP 0 under 5g of added sugar per 100ml; COP 40 per 100ml from 5g to under 9g; COP 68 per 100ml at 9g or more
- Each January
- The drink rates rise with the tax value unit (UVT); in 2025 they were COP 38 and 65
- Foods
- 20% on ultra-processed foods with added sugar, salt or saturated fat above set limits, since 2025 (10% in 2023, 15% in 2024)
- Exempt
- Plain water, 100% juices and infant formula; producers and importers with taxed sales under 10,000 UVT a year
- Law
- Law 2277 of 2022 (Article 513-4 of the Tax Statute), in force since 1 November 2023
Pass it on
Raise the price by the tax or more. Works for products whose sales hold up when the price rises.
Absorb it
Keep the price and take the cost. Works when a rise would push a product past a key price point and lose more profit than the tax.
Cut sugar
Under 9g of added sugar per 100ml a drink pays COP 40 instead of 68, and under 5g nothing.
Does Colombia have a sugar tax?
Yes. Since 1 November 2023, sugary drinks pay a tax per 100ml by added sugar, and ultra-processed foods pay a percentage tax.
How much is the sugar tax in Colombia in 2026?
COP 40 per 100ml for drinks with 5g to under 9g of added sugar per 100ml, and COP 68 at 9g or more. A 330ml can at the higher rate pays about COP 224.
What is the junk food tax in Colombia?
A 20% tax on ultra-processed foods with added sugar, salt or saturated fat above set limits, since 2025.
Do the sugar tax rates change every year?
Yes. The drink rates rise each 1 January in line with the tax value unit (UVT).
How much does a sugar tax review cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about COP 32 million) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review with the sugar tax built in costs around £17,500 (about COP 75 million). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Do you work with brands in Colombia?
Yes. We're based in the UK and work remotely and in English, under NDA. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling before we start, and the first step is a free 15-minute call.
- DIAN, Resolution 0247 of 2025 (2026 rates)
- Global Food Research Program (UNC), food and drink tax maps, March 2026
Checked on 24 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.