Demonstration against more expensive drinking water: "It's a necessity of life" Interior



[ad_1]

Peter van der Velden, president of the water club, prefers the maintenance of the low VAT rate of 6% on tap water. And if not, he wants the cabinet to sprinkle the wine in a different way. "Water is a primary necessity of life," he says. "In the Netherlands, we have very good drinking water, the cost of which has fallen in price only in recent years through more efficient work."

Doubled

Nevertheless, the tax on water has almost doubled in the last twenty years, he said. "Twenty years ago, 15% of the price per cubic meter was tax, today it is almost thirty percent." On the water, the consumption tax is paid, in addition to the low VAT rate (from 6 to 9 per cent in January).

In an advertisement published in De Telegraaf, water drinkers plead in favor of tap water. less expensive to manufacture: according to them, water bottles are also cheaper from the government than worse for the environment

This statement from the water companies – that water bottles become cheaper thanks to government policy – is seen at the Binnenhof with raised eyebrows. This statement is at least premature, they know it in The Hague

"No decision on the bottle"

In their advertising campaign, the water companies write that the low VAT rate also goes from 6 to 9% for tap water. That's right, this is well indicated in the firm's plans. "In the meantime, the government wants to reduce the tax on bottled water," write the water suppliers. But the Cabinet did not make this decision at all, reports the Ministry of Finance

It may well be that such a decision is taken in due course, but it is not yet the case. It would seem that insiders are currently seeing if the consumption tax on water bottles can be lowered and the tax on soda bottles can be increased. In this way, people are encouraged to make a healthier choice. The government is reviewing these plans in the context of what is called the Prevention Agreement, a plan that will also make cigarettes more expensive and encourage the government to live healthier lives.

This precise idea that makes bottled water a bit cheaper, is not yet a government policy. But if that happens, it does not mean that it suddenly becomes financially attractive to switch from tap water to bottled water. An involved official calls this suggestion a nonsense, water bottles remain much more expensive than tap water, even if the consumption tax is changed. The financial counterpart between a bottle of cola and the spring water cooling is something else.

"At present, a liter of tap water still costs about 500 times cheaper, for example, a bottle of one liter of Spa at Albert Heijn" [19659011] At the present time, a liter of tap water still costs about 500 times less than a bottle of one liter of spa at Albert Heijn. A glass of tap water and a bottle of water at the station do not have to compete with each other, concludes Peter van der Velden. "One more effect is that water could become more popular with these plans, but where water enthusiasts are now using reusable bottles, it will soon be more interesting to buy new bottles over and over again. you have this waste problem again. "

But in summary, the water companies" subscribe to the principle "and believe that The Hague is transporting water to the sea." The water is a the primordial need of life, and for a very good drinking water tap, thirty percent of the load represents a lot, "says the president of VEWIN. He hopes the Cabinet will consider reducing the tax on tap water.

[ad_2]
Source link