SPD Politician: Sugar Tax for Better Health Protection - Germany Rejects 'Turbo Tax' on Sugary Drinks Despite Health Advocates' Push
A proposal to introduce a turbo tax on sugary drinks in Germany was rejected by the CDU/CSU alliance at their federal party conference in Stuttgart. The plan included graduated tax rates on high-sugar drinks and an age restriction of 16 for energy drinks. Meanwhile, health advocates continue to push for measures to reduce sugar consumption, particularly among young people.
Thuringia's SPD health policy spokesperson Cornelia Urban has been a vocal supporter of a turbo tax. She argues that voluntary self-commitments by food manufacturers, such as the National Reduction Strategy (2015–2025), have failed to deliver meaningful results. Instead of the targeted 15% sugar reduction in soft drinks, only around 2% was achieved—dropping from 9.08g to 8.92g per 100ml in lemonades.
Urban proposes a tiered tax system, where products with higher sugar content face steeper insurance levies. She believes this approach would encourage manufacturers to reformulate their products, reducing sugar levels. Some companies have already begun using alternatives like functional sweeteners, fibres, and texture solutions from suppliers such as Tate & Lyle, driven by regulations and consumer demand.
The CDU/CSU, however, remains opposed to the idea. Delegates at their Stuttgart conference dismissed the proposal outright. Urban has criticised the reliance on voluntary measures, stating that they cannot compete with aggressive marketing and the widespread availability of sugary products. She suggests that revenue from a sugar tax could fund preventive healthcare and nutrition education programmes instead.
The rejection of the sugar tax leaves voluntary industry efforts as the main strategy for reducing sugar intake. Manufacturers have made limited progress so far, while health advocates argue stronger measures are needed. The debate over how to tackle excessive sugar consumption, especially among children, is likely to continue.
