As the discussions regarding the 2027 budget draw to a close, the Union party is reportedly considering imposing an additional charge on mixed drinks. This special levy, aimed at cocktails with up to 15% alcohol by volume, would generate supplementary revenue, according to reports from Union circles.
Currently, this supplementary tax, which runs alongside the standard alcohol tax, is limited to a maximum of ten percent. Should the rate be increased, the price of a can, currently around four euros, could rise by another euro. This measure is projected to bring in 100 million euros of additional revenue for the budget.
Originally, the Union was planning to raise the sparkling wine tax (Sektsteuer) by 20 percent, which was expected to yield 60 million euros. However, the winegrowers opposed this plan, arguing that they are already facing significant competitive challenges. To replace the shortfall, the proposal is now on the drawing board to broaden the base of the Alkopop tax. However, this action has not yet been formally approved.
Doris Achelwilm, the tax policy spokesperson for the Left parliamentary group in the Bundestag, strongly criticizes the move. She described the current attempts to adjust product groups as similar to the unfinished sugar tax and the poorly constructed tobacco tax. Achelwilm argued that charging consumption taxes places an unfair, disorderly, and cowardly burden on consumers, especially those with limited financial resources. Furthermore, she asserted that if the government is serious about health prevention, the manufacturers should be held accountable, not the consumers at the checkout counter.
