Italy to introduce ‘sugar tax’ to fund varsity research (Punch)

Italy plans to introduce a tax on fizzy drinks to help fund university research.

Carla Ruocco, a lawmaker from the 5-Star Movement, announced late on Thursday that the so-called ‘sugar tax’ would be presented as an amendment to the budget.

The tax will curb the scope of a contested tax amnesty, the ruling parties agreed, as the government puts together its big-spending 2019 budget.

The budget must be approved by parliament by the end of the year.

A draft budget has been rejected by the European Commission because it aims to raise the deficit instead of reducing it. Read more