GraceKennedy Limited will increase prices on non-alcoholic sweetened beverages by an average of nine percent starting May 1. This decision is due to the government's new sugar-content-based tax and other rising costs, according to a customer notice. The increase applies to general trade customers and includes non-alcoholic sweetened beverages and other products affected by cost increases. The company stated that it cannot absorb the additional costs at this time. The Special Consumption Tax is designed to tax beverages based on sugar content to raise revenue and discourage excessive sugar consumption. The notice did not specify which products would be affected.