Schleswig-Holstein Pushes for Sugar Tax to Combat Youth Obesity

Politicians in Schleswig-Holstein are uniting to fight excessive sugar intake. A proposed tax on sugary drinks aims to reduce consumption and improve the health of young people.

, and Administrator

2025 October 18 . 11:01 AM

2 min read

In this image I can see there are some drink packet in the foreground. And on the right side there... — In this image I can see there are some drink packet in the foreground. And on the right side there is a strawberry drink.

Landtag for levy on high-sugar soft drinks - Schleswig-Holstein Pushes for Sugar Tax to Combat Youth Obesity

The Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein has sparked a debate on tackling excessive sugar consumption. The state parliament, backed by all five factions and Health Minister Kerstin von der Decken (CDU), is pushing for a tax on high-sugar soft drinks and energy drinks. Green health politician Jasper Balke has suggested following the UK's lead in implementing such a tax.

Ex-Health Minister Heiner Garg (FDP) highlighted the global trend, noting that over 50 countries now impose a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Health Minister Kerstin von der Decken supports the initiative, believing it could help curb health issues among children and young people caused by excessive sugar intake.

The SPD has gone a step further, calling for a levy on other particularly sugar-rich foods due to the severe obesity risk they pose. However, their proposal for a manufacturer tax on these foods did not gain a majority. Despite this, the SPD, along with the CDU, Greens, and SSW, is advocating for a national sugar tax or levy on soft and energy drinks. The parliament has urged the state government to lobby for this at the federal level.

CDU's Cornelia Schmachtenberg pointed out the success of such a tax in the UK, where some soft drinks saw their sugar content halved. A Foodwatch analysis found that many drinks in Germany exceed the British soda tax threshold, with an average sugar content of 7.8 percent.

The push for a sugar tax in Germany gains momentum, with broad political support in Schleswig-Holstein. The initiative aims to reduce sugar consumption, particularly among young people, and combat obesity. While the SPD's proposal for a tax on sugar-rich foods did not pass, the call for a national sugar tax on soft and energy drinks remains strong.