Schleswig-Holstein's Minister-President Daniel Günther is not abandoning plans to introduce a tax on sugary drinks, despite a stinging defeat at the CDU's federal party conference. The politician announced he now intends to push the initiative through the Bundesrat, counting on support from other federal states. He argues the new levy could significantly reduce costs in the healthcare system, although opponents warn of excessive burdens on the economy and a lack of impact on youth protection.

Shifting the dispute to the Bundesrat

After the initiative was rejected by the CDU conference, the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein is seeking support among other states in the upper house of parliament.

Goal: health protection

Günther argues that a sugar tax would financially relieve the healthcare system by improving society's eating habits.

Internal resistance within the CDU

The party's economic wing successfully blocked the proposal at the conference, fearing price increases and production costs.

Schleswig-Holstein's Minister-President Daniel Günther (CDU) announced that after the proposal to introduce a sugar tax was rejected by the national party conference, he will shift the fight for new regulations to the level of the Bundesrat. The politician emphasized in an interview with RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland that the matter is not over, and he himself sees "sympathy" for this solution in other states. Günther expressed dissatisfaction with the course of the intra-party debate, suggesting that opponents' arguments focused on defending economic interests rather than substantive health issues. The introduction of a fee based on the sugar content in products is, according to supporters, a key tool in the fight against obesity and lifestyle diseases. However, opponents of the reform within the ranks of the CDU fear that additional financial burdens will negatively impact the competitiveness of food producers. This situation highlights a rift in the largest opposition party between the pragmatic state-level wing represented by Günther and the more market-conservative federal leadership. The debate over a sugar tax in Germany has been ongoing for years, based on the successes of similar solutions introduced, among others, in the United Kingdom in 2018, where a decrease in sugar consumption in drinks was recorded. Germany has so far relied on voluntary industry commitments to reduce the amount of sweeteners in product composition.Discussions in the Bundesrat could open a new legislative path, alternative to the party blockade in the federal parliament itself. The success of this initiative depends on whether Günther can build a broad cross-party coalition involving states governed by the SPD or the Greens, which would put the CDU's national leadership in a difficult public relations situation. „Das Thema Zuckersteuer hat sich natürlich nicht erledigt” (The issue of the sugar tax is of course not settled) — Daniel Günther

Mentioned People

  • Daniel Günther — Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein for the CDU, advocate for introducing a sugar tax.