An Innocent Drinks petition on the 10 Downing Street website has attracted more than 20,000 signatures supporting a cut in VAT on fruit juices and smoothies.
While fresh, frozen and canned fruit are all exempt from VAT, fruit juices and smoothies are the only fresh produce format to incur the tax.
A reduction in the tax in next week’s budget would encourage more people to get their 5 A DAY, according to soft drink manufacturers.
Some 59 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion on the subject.
Richard Laming, communications director at the British Soft Drinks Association, said: “The government rightly wants people to eat more fruit and veg. The chancellor has the opportunity to encourage this by reducing the level of VAT on fruit juice.”
No comments yet