Doha, Qatar: The General Tax Authority (GTA) has addressed common misconceptions surrounding the application of the excise tax on sweetened drinks, emphasising that the levy is applied selectively based on sugar content and product type rather than across all sugary products.
In an official social media post, the GTA outlined key facts to help the public better understand the new regime, which took effect on July 6, 2026 under Law No. (2) of 2026 amending the Excise Tax Law.
Contrary to popular belief, not all carbonated soft drinks are taxed at the same rate. The authority clarified that the excise tax on sweetened drinks is calculated according to the drink’s sugar content. Diet and zero-sugar carbonated soft drinks are subject to a zero percent tax rate.
The tax does not apply to all sweets or products containing sugar. It is limited exclusively to pre-packaged sweetened drinks that contain added sugar. Freshly prepared or made-to-order beverages served in restaurants and cafés for immediate consumption remain exempt.
Tax rates are not uniform for every drink containing sugar. Under the tiered volumetric model, rates vary by sugar concentration: drinks with lower sugar content attract a lower or zero rate, while those with higher sugar content face higher rates.
Meanwhile, energy drinks fall outside the new sugar-based regime and continue to be taxed at the existing 100 percent rate.
The GTA stressed that these distinctions aim to promote informed consumer choices and support public health objectives aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030. One percent of the revenue generated from the sweetened drinks tax is allocated to the Ministry of Public Health for health awareness programmes.
