Daniel Günther, the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, welcomed the federal government’s plan to introduce a sugar tax on sweet beverages as part of the ongoing German healthcare reform. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Günther stated that he “expressly welcomes” the growing focus on the sugar tax, but stressed that the final proposal put forward by the coalition government would be the decisive factor. He also aligned himself with Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, arguing that any such tax must serve the health interests of children and youth, rather than simply being utilized to plug financial budget deficits.
Conversely, the food industry reacted sharply to the measure. Christoph Minhoff, CEO of the German Federation of the Food Industry and the Food Association, alleged that the sole purpose of the tax is to cover budgetary gaps. Minhoff added that during the upcoming parliamentary proceedings, they would demonstrate that the narrative linking the sugar tax only to child health is incorrect. According to the draft legislation for reforming statutory health insurance, the excise duty on sugar-sweetened drinks is scheduled to take effect in 2028.
Internationally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed the effectiveness of special excise taxes on sugary drinks in 2025. The WHO concluded that collecting such consumer taxes is a viable method for reducing consumption and fighting diseases associated with high intake of sugary beverages. The organization’s “3 by 35” initiative aims to ensure that the real prices of three unhealthy products-tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks-increase by at least 50 percent by 2035, while requiring consideration of the special circumstances of individual member states.