Given the mounting financial difficulties within the healthcare system and new proposed austerity measures from an expert commission, a slight majority of German citizens favor increasing taxes on tobacco products and spirits. According to a survey conducted by the opinion research institute Insa for the “Bild am Sonntag” 51% of respondents support boosting levies on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages as a way to alleviate the financial burden on the healthcare system. In contrast, 43% oppose such tax increases, and 6% declined to give an opinion.
Public opinion is less definitive regarding a potential tax on sugary drinks, showing a divided sentiment: 48% favor the tax, while 47% are against it, and 5% had no opinion. Support is higher for a general sugar tax, which would be backing by 52% of respondents, provided that this were accompanied by the complete elimination of VAT on basic foodstuffs. However, 39% reject this measure, and 9% remained undecided.
Discussions also encompassed structural reforms besides generating additional income. Just under half of the respondents (49%) are in favor of establishing a statutory health insurance fund as the sole system in the long term. Meanwhile, 37% disagree with this proposal, and 14% were undecided. The opinion research institute Insa surveyed 1,001 people on April 1st and 2nd, 2026, for the “Bild am Sonntag”.
