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Germany’s Sugary-Drink Output Holds Steady in 2024 as Light Variants Gain

New figures sharpen pressure for a German tax on sugary drinks.

Overview

  • Destatis reported 7.7 billion liters of sugar-sweetened soft drinks in 2024, roughly 93 liters per person and down 0.2% from 2023.
  • Production of light soft drinks rose to 1.5 billion liters, about 18 liters per person, marking a 5.7% increase year over year while remaining far below sugary beverages.
  • Mineral, table and medicinal water production reached 12.7 billion liters, equating to about 152 liters per person.
  • FAO data put per-capita sugar availability in Germany at 41.2 kilograms in 2023—about 38 sugar cubes daily—well above WHO’s guidance of roughly 50 grams per day.
  • WHO figures show obesity affected 24% of German adults and 8% of children in 2022, while 116 countries had sugary-drink taxes in 2024; Germany has none, though a Forsa poll for Foodwatch found 60% support for a tiered levy and a CDU-led initiative was announced late last year.