Consumer advice centers are calling for a targeted implementation of the planned sugar tax. Ramona Pop, the head of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV), told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Saturday edition) that the revenue generated by the sugar tax should be used for the sustainable and sensible financing of health promotion. However, she stressed that prevention must not be limited solely to health. According to Pop, it encompasses areas such as the workplace, nutrition, transportation, and urban development, among many others. She urged that the Federal Chancellery coordinate all necessary measures across these sectors.
Pop expressed grave concern that life expectancy in Germany has recently dropped below the EU average. She pointed out that almost no progress has been made in combating respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, or diabetes within Germany. Significant improvements are also needed regarding heat protection. In total, Pop asserted that prevention must be comprehensive and not restricted to the health sector alone. She argued that only the Chancellery possesses the competence to bring all important government ministries together on the same level.
Furthermore, Pop addressed the economic dimensions of the problem. She stated that the healthcare system currently functions largely as a repair mechanism-we end up paying for costs afterward that could have been prevented through health promotion, and these subsequent costs are far more expensive. She highlighted that the macroeconomic costs of chronic, non-communicable diseases are considerable, especially in an aging society. Pop added that a particularly worrying trend is that younger people today are sicker than previous generations. As she concluded, the issue of prevention must be included when discussing how to boost productivity in Germany.
Regarding financing these initiatives, the consumer advocates suggested increasing the taxes on tobacco and alcohol. Pop insisted that the funding must be allocated independently of health insurance funds or other institutions, ensuring that the focus remains clearly on health promotion rather than, for instance, funding supplementary educational courses.
