Nine of Germany’s sixteen federal states have proposed a tax on all soft drinks containing added sugar (including Coca-Cola). The reason was the excessively high sugar content in these drinks, reports euro-pulse.ru.
Consumption of sugary drinks is associated with numerous health problems, especially in children, from hyperactivity and headaches to excess weight.
A study by the Technical University of Munich found that introducing a tax on such drinks over the next 20 years could lead to significant reductions in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Several years ago, there were already attempts in Germany to encourage manufacturers to voluntarily reduce the sugar content in carbonated drinks. Unfortunately, during this time the sugar content decreased by only 2%.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a tax on sugary drinks of at least 20%.
It is worth noting that the ban on the sale of soda has been in effect in all schools in EU countries since 2018. Portugal has already introduced a tax on sugary drinks, which has led to a reduction in sugar consumption by the population.