Overview
- Reports say the Finance Ministry is now preparing a sugar consumption tax bill that officials expect to present to the cabinet imminently, replacing earlier plans led by the Health Ministry.
- The switch follows constitutional advice that a special, purpose‑bound levy (Sonderabgabe) would be legally vulnerable because such levies must demonstrably benefit the group that pays them.
- Experts recommended a tiered, sugar‑content model that would exempt drinks under about 5 g per 100 ml, charge roughly €0.26 per liter for 5–8 g/100 ml and about €0.32 per liter above that as a way to push reformulation.
- More than 300 mainly medium‑sized beverage companies have signed an open letter warning of heavy administrative costs, regional economic harm and higher prices hitting low‑income households.
- The measure is linked to the government’s Krankenkassenreform, is estimated to raise about €450 million a year from 2028 if adopted, and faces political friction inside the CDU ahead of parliamentary votes this month.