UK to Extend Sugar Tax to Milkshakes and Lattes From 2028. Britain will expand its sugar tax to include high-sugar, pre-packaged milkshakes and coffees from 2028, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announces. The threshold will drop from 5g to 4.5g of sugar per 100ml, bringing popular products like Yazoo, Frijj, Starbucks Caffè Latte and “high-protein” shakes into the tax net. Originally exempt, milk-based drinks will now face the levy, though a “lactose allowance” will ensure naturally occurring milk sugars are partially excluded. Plant-based milks such as oat, almond and soy will also fall under the tax for the first time. Over-the-counter café drinks remain exempt, while fruit juices, alcohol-free beer, wine and meal replacement shakes are not affected. Several fizzy drinks that previously escaped the levy—like Pepsi, Lucozade, Irn-Bru, Fanta and San Pellegrino—will now be taxed under the tighter sugar threshold. Streeting defends the move as vital to tackling childhood obesity and reducing long-term NHS pressures, despite criticism from politicians who call it nanny-state overreach. The government expects manufacturers to cut sugar levels or reduce portion sizes, noting the original levy led to a 46% drop in sugar content in fizzy drinks.