The Irish government plans to implement a sugar tax in April 2018, which is set to raise the cost of soft drinks. The country's 2018 Budget outlines that beverages with more than eight grams of sugar per 100ml will be taxed at €0.30 ($0.44) per litre, while a reduced tax rate of €0.20 ($0.30) per litre will be implemented from drinks with between five and eight grams of sugar per 100ml. The government says the tax rates are consistent with those being introduced in the U.K. in April 2018. A similar tax was introduced in Portugal earlier this year, and the country's ministry for health says consumption of high-sugar drinks has dropped by 25% since its implementation.
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