<h1>GST Council hikes GST to 40% on carbonated and flavored drinks, cuts juice and plant-based milks to 5%</h1> The GST Council revised tax rates for beverages, raising the GST on carbonated drinks, carbonated fruit-juice drinks, caffeinated beverages and other non-alcoholic flavored or sugar-added beverages to 40% (previously 28% or 18% as applicable). Conversely, the GST rate for fruit pulp or fruit juice-based drinks (excluding carbonated fruit drinks) was reduced to 5% from 12%. Plant-based ready-to-drink milks and soya milk drinks were also cut to 5% (from 18% and 12% respectively), altering tax burdens and likely retail prices across these product categories.