States at the federal level advocate for a tax on sugary beverages.
To cut down on the sugar in drinks, the German government has mainly depended on the "voluntary promises" from the industry, but the results have been disappointing. Now, nine German states are said to be pushing for a tax on sugary drinks. According to the "Bild" newspaper, this could result in substantial savings.
It seems that sweet lemonades might become pricier due to the wishes of several German states. Nine out of 16 German states are reportedly pushing for what's being called a "soft drink tax," as reported by the "Bild" newspaper, citing a protocol declaration from the consumer protection ministers' conference. In this document, the states urged the federal government to look into a "manufacturer-related tax" on such beverages.
States like Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, and Thuringia are said to back the "soft drink tax." The document states, "Despite the voluntary commitments and industry vows in Germany, the average sugar content of, for instance, soft drinks hasn't decreased enough for health promotion."
A study by the Technical University of Munich and the University of Liverpool suggests that a sugar tax on soft drinks in Germany could save up to 16 billion Euros alone within the next two decades and prevent various diseases. "A soft drink tax in Germany would have significant positive impacts," the research team concluded in November in the scientific journal "PLOS Medicine." In all simulated scenarios, less sugar would be consumed, and diseases would be less common. "Economic costs could be reduced, and the healthcare system could be eased."
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests a tax of at least 20 percent on sugary beverages to lower sugar intake and its related health issues. Many countries have already implemented tax measures to restrict the consumption of sugary beverages or foods. However, Germany has relied mainly on the beverage industry's voluntary commitment - studies indicate this approach has had limited success.
