(Gemini Audio)
(de-news.net) – Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, along with members of both governing parliamentary factions, have reportedly expressed a readiness to engage in discussions concerning the introduction of a supplementary tax on tobacco products. The proposed legislative measure aims to increase the retail price of tobacco goods as a deterrent to consumption, while simultaneously channeling the resulting revenue into Germany’s statutory health insurance system to offset the long-term financial burdens associated with tobacco-related illnesses.
The principal rationale behind the initiative lies in the adoption of a risk-adjusted taxation framework—one that explicitly accounts for the economic and public health consequences of tobacco use. Revenues generated through this levy would be earmarked for targeted investments in smoking cessation programs and preventative health campaigns, administered through the statutory insurance system’s health fund. According to health policy advocates from both the CDU/CSU and SPD, such a reform should transcend conventional fiscal policy and reflect the principle that individuals contributing to health-related costs should bear a proportionate share of the financial responsibility.
Simone Borchardt (CDU), serving as the Union faction’s spokesperson for health policy, emphasized the importance of establishing a more equitable taxation structure. She further stressed the need for any additional funds raised through the levy to be systematically directed toward health-promoting initiatives. Christos Pantazis of the SPD interpreted the Union’s apparent shift from its previous stance as a constructive development, suggesting that a carefully designed tax increase could serve as an effective instrument for advancing public health objectives. He reiterated his party’s openness to substantive dialogue, provided that the proposal moves beyond symbolic gestures and demonstrates genuine policy intent.
Tino Sorge (CDU), Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, adopted a more measured tone but acknowledged the necessity of initiating political discourse on the subject. Citing recent data, Sorge noted that the combined impact of active and passive smoking imposes an estimated 30 billion euros in direct healthcare costs annually, with an additional 67 billion euros in indirect economic losses stemming from reduced productivity and premature mortality. He advocated for the strategic reinvestment of any new tax revenues into the healthcare system, underscoring the behavioral influence that fiscal instruments such as taxation can exert on public health outcomes.
