German Health Experts and Politicians Call for Higher Alcohol Taxes to Reduce Health Risks

German health policy spokesperson for the CDU, Borchardt, has called for increased taxes specifically targeting high-alcohol beverages due to their high addiction risks and severe health consequences. Meanwhile, government plans are underway to propose banning supervised drinking for minors, which currently allows youth to consume beer, wine, and sparkling wine in parental presence. Health experts, including Reinhardt, President of the German Medical Association, advocate raising prices on harmful products such as alcohol, tobacco, and sugar, and suggest that the resulting revenues be reinvested into the healthcare system to improve public health outcomes.

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, alcoholic beverages in Germany are about 14% cheaper than the EU average, with only Italy having lower prices. In contrast, some countries like Finland impose much higher taxes, resulting in prices more than twice the EU average. Per capita alcohol consumption in Germany decreased to 11.2 liters of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and older in 2022, placing Germany ninth in Europe alongside France and Portugal. Despite this decline, alcohol remains a significant health concern, with research showing its toxic effects even in small doses. The German Nutrition Society has thus updated its guidelines to recommend abstaining from alcohol altogether.

These policy discussions emphasize the link between alcohol prices, consumption, and health burdens, with hopes that higher taxes modeled after measures such as the UK’s sugar tax could lead to healthier populations and reduced strain on the health system.