Overview
- The draft Eckpunktepapier from the finance ministry, published on Friday, September 4, proposes tiered per‑litre charges for beverages and a 26‑cent per litre rate for drinks that contain non‑caloric sweeteners.
- Coalition spokespeople have said sugar‑free drinks should not be taxed, creating a political dispute that leaves the final product scope unresolved for the planned 2027 rollout.
- Consumer groups and nutrition experts support including sweetener‑containing products to prevent manufacturers from simply replacing sugar with intense sweeteners and keeping drinks very sweet.
- Health agencies say common sweeteners are approved within limits but note long‑term evidence is incomplete and label rules do not require firms to disclose exact sweetener quantities.
- The government frames the levy as a revenue source with provisional estimates for 2027–28, but analysts dispute those figures and technical problems remain, for example distinguishing added versus natural sugars in juices and plant‑based milks.