Tax on water

It was a great privilege for Zenith to hold its 8th Global Bottled Water Congress alongside the 20th Brazil Mineral Water Congress in Rio de Janeiro last month and we were delighted by the attendance of over 400 delegates.

Less delightful was more information about the astonishing level of tax on bottled water in Brazil – at 42.5%, the highest for any country in the world.

Water is such a healthy drink that it should have no tax on it.

At least, there were two hints of better news to come in Brazil. The new Director of the responsible Government department told delegates he would review current tax levels. Delegates also celebrated news that the first of Brazil’s 26 states had agreed to reduce its tax rate on bottled water.