Sweetened drinks increase the risk of obesity and diseases. However, the beverage industry's voluntary commitment to sugar reduction to date has only had limited success. This was shown by a study conducted in collaboration with Michael Laxy, Professor of Public Health and Prevention at Technical University of Munich (TUM) and DZD scientist. The effects have so far fallen well short of expectations. A team led by Michael Laxy and Chris Kypridemos from the University of Liverpool has now calculated which impact the introduction of a so-called sugar tax in Germany would have
Per capita sugar consumption reduced
According to the simulation, a flat 20% surcharge on soft drink prices would reduce sugar consumption by one gram per person per day. A 30 percent reduction in sugar in the recipes would have an even greater impact. Less sugar in drinks would reduce per capita consumption in Germany by 2.3 grams per day - with positive effects for the prevention of diseases such as diabetes. Fewer cases of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are predicted.
This also saves costs: the simulation shows savings of around 16 billion euros (4 billion euros in healthcare costs) over 20 years with a staggered manufacturer levy. Politicians should decide whether a soft drinks tax makes sense in Germany. The study provides factual arguments for the debate and emphasizes the relevance of a tax as a preventive measure. Information campaigns alone may not be enough.
Original publication:
Emmert-Fees KMF, Amies-Cull B, Wawro, N, Linseisen J, Staudigel M, Peters A, et al. (2023). "Projected health and economic impacts of sugarsweetened beverage taxation in Germany: A crossvalidation modelling study". PLoS Med 20(11): e1004311. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004311