Germany is set to vote this Friday (27) on a proposal that foresees taxing sugary drinks and banning the sale of energy drinks to minors under 16. The measure will be analyzed by the Bundesrat, the body that represents the German regional states. The text, according to information released by Reuters this Wednesday (25), initiates the legislative process, but does not yet define how the taxation will be structured. The proposal, however, indicates that the resources raised should be directed to public health initiatives. The project was conceived by Daniel Günther, who advocates greater regulation on sugar consumption. “Manufacturers should have an incentive to review their recipes and reduce the sugar content. Until now, they have not had this incentive,” he stated. In addition to taxation, the text foresees a ban on the sale of energy drinks to minors under 16, due to their high caffeine, taurine and sugar content. “Energy drinks are not harmless and trendy drinks. They can become a real problem, especially for young people,” said Günther. According to the World Health Organization, more than 100 countries already have some type of tax on sugary drinks, including about half of the members of the European Union, such as Belgium, France and Portugal.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.