Germany news
fromwww.dw.com
4 days agoGermany's sugar tax sparks 'nanny state' debate
Germany plans a tiered levy on sugary drinks starting in 2028 to fund health care investments and reduce sugary consumption.
A crowd of customers, holding phones aloft, watch intently as Auntie Nid mixes up her bestseller: an iced Thai tea. Condensed milk is poured into a glass, followed by three heaped tablespoons of sugar, and then freshly strained tea. The end product a deep orange, creamy treat is poured into a plastic bag filled with ice. I want to spoil my customers, says Auntie Nid, 68, who prefers to be known by her nickname.
The proposal was put forth by Schleswig-Holstein State Premier Daniel Gunther, who pointed to the negative impact that sugary drinks have on the health of children. Noting that roughly one-quarter of all German children are overweight, Gunther said, "We need a tax that can affect behavioral change if we are to confront this massive health issue." Gunther said he hoped such a tax would force companies to put less sugar in their drinks.
The U.S. version lists 73 grams of sugar per 20-ounce bottle. The U.K. version lists 4.5 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters. Crunch the numbers, and you'll find the American Fanta has nearly three times the sugar as its counterpart across the pond - 12.4 grams per 100 milliliters versus 4.5. The thing is, the British version doesn't taste like it's missing anything.
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Obesity robs children of the best possible start in life, hits the poorest hardest, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems and costs the NHS billions.
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