Numbers from the Canadian Beverage Association suggest Newfoundland and Labrador’s thirst for sugary drinks has not been totally curbed by the provincial government’s sugar tax.

Government began charging an extra 20 cents per litre on sugary drinks in 2022 and raked in $11 million during the first year of it being imposed.

CEO Krista Scaldwell says over 70 per cent of those asked say they weren’t changing their habits, despite there being a levy tacked on to the sale price.

She chalks it up to people wanting to have the products they’ve always liked, as there is no shortage of healthier alternatives on the market.

Scaldwell says companies have put an extra push on developing new products that contain less sugar, and have made efforts to make nutrition information more apparent. She says imposing such a tax isn’t a problem solver, as many will either not change their habits or they’ll switch to another sugary product that doesn’t fall under the list of taxed items.