Drinks: Coalition agrees on sugar tax – topic in the cabinet today

Berlin. The federal government has reached an agreement in the dispute over the sugar tax for drinks and wants to bring it through the cabinet on Wednesday. After that, the Bundestag still has to give its consent. As announced on Tuesday evening from the lead finance ministry, the government has agreed on a wording aid for the CDU and SPD factions in the Bundestag on how to implement the tax. The editorial network Germany (RND) had previously reported.

The compromise provides for a two-tier tax and exemptions for smaller manufacturers. From July 1, 2027, a tax rate of 26 cents will be levied on sweetened drinks with a sugar content of 5 grams per 100 milliliters. With a sugar content of 8 grams per 100 milliliters, the rate should be 32 cents.

With the sugar tax, Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) not only wants to generate income for the federal budget, but also give beverage manufacturers an incentive to reduce sugar content and make their products healthier. However, the Chancellery temporarily stopped its plans at the beginning of the month. In government circles it was said that his draft differed from the proposal of the Health Finance Commission and that it would not have a majority in the government in this form.