The 20-cent-per-litre sugar tax should soon start coming off sugar-sweetened drinks, but the factors influencing rising prices go well beyond that tax, notes one industry expert.

Consumers will have noticed that many beverages have gone up in price in recent months.

The president of the Canadian Beverage Association, Krista Scaldwell, says the pressures influencing price are varied.

“In Canada we have extended producer responsibility that puts the expense of recycling onto producers, so that’s part of price increases in Canada.”

She says they’ve also seen an overall cost-of-living expense with a rise in labour costs, not to mention the threat of tariffs bringing greater unpredictability to business.

“That increases costs, and all that combined increases prices to consumers,” said Scaldwell.