Rules by country / Europe / France sugar tax 2026
France sugar tax 2026: what it costs each drink, and what to do
France's soda tax rose sharply in 2025 and rises with inflation every January. We work out what it costs every product and the most profitable response: pass it on, absorb it or cut sugar.
At the 2026 rates (BOFiP, from 1 January 2026), including any sweetener tax. The sugar bands use added sugar.
A sugar tax review for France
What the tax costs each product, and the most profitable response, with a price plan for each retailer.
- The sugar and sweetener tax on every 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 that respects the EGalim promotion limits
How your results look
| Product | Added sugar per 100ml | Tax in 2026 | Our advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cola, 330ml can | 10.6g | 11.8 cents a can | Pass on in full |
| Lemonade, 1.5 litres | 5.4g | 32.1 cents a bottle | Cut sugar below 5g |
| Iced tea, 500ml | 4.6g | 2.0 cents a bottle | Absorb it |
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 €2,400). Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in euros 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.
France sugar tax: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Rates in 2026
- €4.07 per hectolitre under 5g of added sugar per 100ml, €21.38 from 5g to 8g, and €35.63 above 8g
- Per litre
- 4.07, 21.38 and 35.63 cents
- Sweeteners
- A separate tax: €4.50 per hectolitre up to 120mg of sweeteners per litre, and €6 above that
- Exempt
- Milk drinks and 100% juices
- Every year
- Rates rise with inflation on 1 January
- History
- Tax since 2012, sugar bands since 2018, and a sharp rise from 1 March 2025
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
Reformulate below 5g, or to 8g or less, to drop a band. Works when the tax saved is worth more than the recipe cost and any lost sales.
Does France have a sugar tax?
Yes. France taxes drinks with added sugar by sugar content: €4.07, €21.38 or €35.63 per hectolitre in 2026. Drinks with sweeteners pay a separate tax.
What changed in France's sugar tax in 2025?
From 1 March 2025 the tax moved to three bands with much higher rates: €4, €21 and €35 per hectolitre. With inflation they rose to €4.07, €21.38 and €35.63 on 1 January 2026.
How much is the sugar tax on a can in France?
About 11.8 cents on a 330ml can with more than 8g of added sugar per 100ml, at the 2026 rates.
Are drinks with sweeteners taxed in France?
Yes, separately: €4.50 per hectolitre up to 120mg of sweeteners per litre, and €6 above that, in 2026.
How much does a sugar tax review cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about €9,000) 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 €21,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Do you work with brands in France?
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.
- BOFiP, tariffs of the contributions on drinks with added sugar and sweeteners (2026)
- Global Food Research Program (UNC), sugary 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.
Also changing prices in France
Ask about these on the same call.