Friedrich Merz's government has agreed to introduce a sugar levy on soft drinks as part of its health care reforms. Critics have called it disproportionate interference, but dozens of countries already have such a levy.
The only valid critic point is that they should remove taxes from raw vegetables, fruit and other basic food items, because increasing consumption of those to replace sugary processed food will really boost health. As of now, they only do half the job and thereby turning all this “it’s good you health” talk into a fat lie. It’s only about money, nothing else.
Germany already has 2 kind of value added taxes (Mehrwertsteuer). 19 % for all general stuff and 7 % for stuff the state sees as basic needs, like vegetables. Chocolate, chips and similar things count as luxury items and get the general 19 %.
The only valid critic point is that they should remove taxes from raw vegetables, fruit and other basic food items, because increasing consumption of those to replace sugary processed food will really boost health. As of now, they only do half the job and thereby turning all this “it’s good you health” talk into a fat lie. It’s only about money, nothing else.
Germany already has 2 kind of value added taxes (Mehrwertsteuer). 19 % for all general stuff and 7 % for stuff the state sees as basic needs, like vegetables. Chocolate, chips and similar things count as luxury items and get the general 19 %.
So your demand is already fulfilled.
No it’s not, my demand is to lower the 7% tax down to 0%.