The 50% tax on soft drinks and 100% on vaping products start Jan. 1, 2020 The government says the taxes are necessary to help persuade people to make healthier choices DUBAI: The UAE government has announced new taxes of up to 100 percent aimed at vaping and soft drinks, in a bid to reduce the consumption of unhealthy products. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, the new list of taxable products will include sugary and sweetened soft drinks, as well as powders that can be used to make drinks, and electronic smoking devices. A statement on state-run news agency WAM said the step is aimed at reducing “consumption of unhealthy goods and modifying consumers’ behavior.” The Cabinet decision, will add a 50 percent tax on soft drinks with added sugar, in form of a liquid, concentrate, powders, extracts or any product that may be converted into a drink. “The decision also requires manufacturers to clearly identify the sugar content in order for consumers to make sensible healthy choices,” the statement read. The cabinet also announced the introduction of a 100 percent tax on electronic smoking devices - irrespective of whether they contain nicotine or tobacco - and the liquids used in the devices. The UAE government first introduced a tax on specific goods deemed harmful to human health in 2017.