Alexander Hoffmann, the head of the CSU regional group, demands that the planned sugar tax be postponed until January 1, 2028. During interviews with RTL and ntv, he stated that this later date would allow companies sufficient time to adjust their recipes. The CSU remains “very, very critical” of the originally scheduled start date of July 1, 2027.
Hoffmann criticized Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil (SPD), accusing him of having overly ambitious ideas. He asserted, “As of today, the Federal Ministry of Finance still has unrealistic ideas. We stated from the beginning: the sugar tax must be a steering tax. This is about genuine prevention. Germany needs improvement in this area. Our children are overweight, and sugar consumption is too high. That’s what we want to control with it.”
According to the CSU politician, providing businesses with adequate lead time is crucial; “companies must be given time to adjust their recipes. This has proven highly successful in other countries. So that is what it must be about.” He explained that experience in other European countries demonstrates that changes in the consumption of sugary drinks are primarily attributable to shifts in the formulation of these products.
When asked how a delay would affect the 2027 budget planning, Hoffmann was cautious, noting that the 2027 budget is already “stretched to its limit,” starting from a structural deficit of 34 billion. However, he maintained that a later start is achievable. “On the other hand, it must be said that there are many levers. You might have to juggle things in some areas, but I believe there are definitely enough room for this time shift to be possible.”
Hoffmann emphasized that the public health impact of the sugar tax must take precedence over generating additional state revenue. He reiterated, “Once again: the sugar tax is not about generating income; the central focus is the steering concept. And that is what we should orient ourselves towards.”
