Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther intends to introduce a tax on sweetened drinks via the Bundesrat despite rejection at the CDU party congress. He criticizes the debate as an economic defense posture and emphasizes youth protection. Other federal states show sympathy for the proposal.
Following the rejection of a motion at the CDU federal party congress in Stuttgart, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther (CDU) aims to implement a sugar tax on high-sugar drinks via the Bundesrat. "The sugar tax issue is not over, of course," Günther told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). His state branch had passed a congress resolution calling for a tiered tax to reduce sugar content, along with an age limit of 16 for energy drinks.
Günther expressed annoyance at the debate: "All the arguments that played a role had nothing to do with youth protection, but were more of a defensive debate because people believed the sugar tax issue burdens the economy." He argued the opposite was true, as seen in countries like the UK. "It's not about generating revenue, but about minimizing costs," he emphasized, focusing on the health of children and youth, many of whom are already overweight.
Opponents at the congress advocated for education instead of bans and pointed to economic burdens. Günther received support from parts of the congress and other states. The German Medical Association backs the proposal; its president Klaus Reinhardt told the Catholic News Agency (KNA) that people in Germany consume about 25 grams of sugar daily just from drinks.
