panaji sep 20 the allpowerful gst council on friday more than doubled the tax on caffeinated beverages to 40 per cent and slashed the rate on hotel room tariffs briefing reporters after a meeting of the panel finance minister nirmala sitharaman said the gst on caffeinated beverages has been hiked to 28 per cent plus additional cess of 12 per cent as against the current rate of 18 per cent for hotels she announced nil tax for those with tariffs of up to rs 1000 per night hotels charging rs 1001 to rs 7500 per night room tariff would be levied with 12 per cent tax as against the existing 18 per cent similarly the tax on room tariff of above rs 7500 has been slashed to 18 per cent from the existing 28 per cent also tax on outdoor catering has been reduced to 5 per cent from existing 18 per cent with input tax credit she said the gst was also cut on marine fuel to 5 per cent while the same on railway wagons coaches roling stock has been increased from 5 per cent to 12 per cent exemption from the gst has been given to imports of specified defence goods that are not manufactured in india a uniform gst rate of 12 per cent will be levied on wovennonwoven polyethylene bags the cess levied on top of the maximum 28 per cent tax rate on petrol vehicles with capacity to carry 1013 persons has been reduced to 1 per cent and the same for diesel vehicles has been cut to 3 per cent the tax on almond milk has been set at 18 per cent she said adding all rate changes would be effective from october 1 the gst on slide fasteners zips has been reduced to 12 per cent from 18 per cent earlier also the tax on diamond job work has been reduced to 15 per cent from 5 per cent earlier the same on supply of machine job cut to 12 per cent from 18 per cent dp rsp anz mkj