Drinks are expected to become up to 38 cents more expensive per liter
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Germany’s planned sugar tax could be far broader than previously expected, with soft drinks, juices, milk-based drinks and even zero-sugar beverages potentially becoming more expensive.
According to a document titled “Eckpunkte einer Zuckergetränkesteuer” (key points of a sugar-drink tax) seen by FOCUS online, the proposed levy would depend on a drink’s sugar content. Three tax levels are being considered: 26 cents per liter for drinks containing 4.5 to 7 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, 32 cents for more than 7 to 10 grams, and 38 cents for drinks containing more than 10 grams.
The proposed tax would cover much more than traditional sugary soft drinks. The plans could also include juices, iced teas, milk drinks and plant-based alternatives such as oat, almond, rice, hazelnut, coconut, pea and seed drinks. Alcohol-free beer mixes, syrups, concentrates and instant drink powders could also be affected.
Even drinks containing artificial sweeteners could fall under the proposed rules. Coca-Cola Light, Coca-Cola Zero, Sprite Zero, Fanta Orange Zero and Müllermilch Zero are among the products that could face the levy despite containing little or no conventional sugar.
For example, a two-liter bottle of iced tea containing 6.7 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters would face a sugar tax of 52 cents. Including VAT on the additional charge, the total increase could reach about 62 cents. A bottle currently costing €2.10 could therefore rise to roughly €2.72 under the assumptions in the proposal.
Higher-sugar drinks could face an even larger increase. A one-liter bottle of Fanta Orange, containing 9.1 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, would fall into the 32-cent-per-liter tax category. After VAT, the additional cost would be around 38 cents, potentially raising a €1.33 bottle to approximately €1.71.
The impact could be particularly striking for zero-sugar beverages. Under the proposed model, Coca-Cola Light could face a 26-cent-per-liter levy, which would become roughly 31 cents after VAT. A one-liter bottle priced at €1.12 could consequently rise to around €1.43—an increase of almost 28 percent.
The tax would initially be charged to manufacturers or suppliers. If companies pass the full cost on to consumers, shoppers would ultimately pay more at the checkout. The proposal is still under discussion, meaning the final rules and rates could change before any tax is introduced.