Coca-Cola change: Still the real thing only smaller (and more expensive)

COCA-COLA have blamed the new sugar tax for charging more for smaller bottles of Coke.

The changes are part of preparations under way in the drinks business for the sugar tax.

The cost of some “price-marked packs” of Coca-Cola sold in newsagents and convenience stores will rise by more than 10% in March, just before the tax comes into effect the following month.

The plans will also see a 1.75 litre bottle of Coke shrink to 1.5 litres and at the same time increase in price by 20p to £1.99. The price of a 500ml bottle is also increasing, from £1.09 to £1.25.

From April, manufacturers will be taxed at 18p on drinks containing 5g of sugar or more per 100ml – and 24p on those with more than 8g per 100ml.

“We have no plans to change the recipe of Coca-Cola Classic so it will be impacted by the soft drinks tax,” said a spokesman for Coca-Cola. “People love the taste – and have told us not to change.”

The move comes as Irn-Bru drinkers are fizzing over a new lower sugar version which they fear will ruin Scotland’s national soft drink.

AG Barr, makers of Irn-Bru, will start bottling a new version of the drink – which outsells Coke and Pepsi in Scotland and famously claimed to be “Made in Scotland, from girders”.

The recipe contains half as much sugar due to the introduction of low calorie sweeteners, including aspartame.

But many Irn-Bru fans aren’t happy, with some even stockpiling the drink.

At the same time a “Hands off our Irn-Bru” petition, started by 27-year-old Ryan Allen from Ayr, has pulled in more than 32,000 signatures.