Germany: Daniel Günther announces fight for sugar tax despite CDU opposition

The Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, has declared his continued efforts to introduce a sugar tax on sweetened drinks in Germany. This decision came shortly after the proposal was rejected by delegates at the federal conference of the CDU. Günther emphasizes that despite the party defeat, „the issue is not over,” and support for this solution extends beyond party divisions and includes medical communities and consumer organizations. The premier's strategy involves shifting the legislative burden to the federal state level. He announced that Schleswig-Holstein will take the initiative in the Bundesrat to build a coalition there for new regulations. However, this requires gaining support from other states, which may be challenging given the skepticism of parts of the Christian Democrats and the food industry lobby. Supporters of the tax point to examples from other European countries where the introduction of similar levies has actually led to a reduction in sugar content in beverage recipes. The debate about a sugar tax in Germany has been ongoing for years but intensified after 2018, when the United Kingdom successfully introduced the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, leading to a significant reduction in sugar in products without a drastic price increase. „Thema hat sich nicht erledigt” (The issue is not over) — Daniel Günther Günther's confrontational stance towards the party line is seen as a manifestation of his liberal course within the Christian Democrats. The premier argues that the state should actively shape health policy, rather than relying solely on voluntary commitments from producers, which in his view have proven insufficient. This debate exposes deep divisions within the CDU between the free-market wing and supporters of corporate social responsibility in the area of public health.