The new Dutch coalition wants to introduce a tax on sugary foods and drinks with the aim of promoting healthier dietary choices.
This new suikertaks (sugar tax) could apply to packaged products containing 6% or more sugar and is expected to raise about €900 million annually.
“We’re making unhealthy choices less attractive,” proudly states the coalition agreement. However, the implementation isn’t quite so cut and dry.
How does the tax work?
In principle, the higher the sugar content, the steeper the tax.
Yet, exactly how much more you’ll pay for your chocolate bar remains unclear. The parties estimate that the average person could spend around €50 annually on the tax.
Do you have a massive sweet tooth? Helaas, you’d likely be looking at a figure much higher than €50.
And what does it mean for your grocery bill?
In addition to hitting popular, high-sugar products like soft drinks, chocolate, and cookies (yes, even those delicious stroopwafels), the new tax could also target frozen fruit, if it’s sold in a package.
However, it’s still unclear how stringently this sugar tax will be implemented — and whether your packaged, frozen blueberries will escape that 6% levy.
“I assume they make an exception for frozen fruit,” Voedingscentrum (Nutrition Centre) nutritional and behavioural expert Liesbeth Velema tells the NOS.
Opinions are also divided on how (if at all) this tax will affect baked products, depending on whether you buy them loose from the bakery or pre-packaged from Albert Heijn.
“Will the sugary-filled cookie from the bakery escape the consequences? We still have many questions about the implementation,” Velema wonders.
Could we really see the suikertaks implemented?
At present, around 120 countries already implement sugar taxes, albeit typically on sugary drinks alone.
Research shows that it’s an effective strategy, with people opting to buy fewer of the taxed sugary drinks and manufacturers choosing to reduce the sugar content of their products.
This tax joins the coalition’s broader plans to tackle public health issues and is intended to bolster previous efforts to combat the Netherlands’ growing obesity rates.
So, what do you think about the planned sugar tax? Will you cut back on sweets or just grumble whilst paying extra? Share your thoughts below.
I think it’s a very very stupid idea.
Government should not be able to force people into a lifestyle by taxation. It also will cause companies to lose money and jobs. Have subsidies when companies use safe alternatives for sugar replacements or reductions. People will not like having higher taxation on such products and being forced is one step to authoritarian rule. Think about it.
I think this is a wonderful idea, if the healthy alternatives such as fresh fruits will become more affordable so that low income households can benefit too.