You grab a chocolate bar, a bottle of cola or a packet of biscuits. Just because you fancy it. But from 2030, paying at the till will leave a nasty aftertaste. Your wallet is getting a sugar check. Is this our new reality? And above all: what does this sugar tax really mean for our wallets? Information and opinions are flying around, but the figures often remain vague.
Back to the beginning: what actually is this sugar tax?
In the new coalition agreement between D66, VVD and CDA, it has been agreed that from 2030 products with a sugar content of 6% or more will be taxed extra. The more sugar a product contains, the higher the tax. A chocolate bar with easily around 58% sugar could suddenly be treated as a luxury product.
But there's a twist: the measure applies to all pre-packaged products. So a filled biscuit from the bakery escapes, as long as it isn't sitting neatly wrapped behind the counter. The same goes for pick 'n' mix sweets. Not pre-packaged, no extra tax.
On the other hand, frozen fruit does currently fall under the sugar tax. Not because it's unhealthy, but because it's pre-packaged and naturally contains sugars. Meanwhile, nutritionists point out that frozen fruit is just as healthy as fresh fruit and actively recommend it. In short: the proposal still has quite a few snags.
What is clear: many sugary products will weigh more heavily on your shopping basket. The aim is clear. Encourage people to consume less sugar and push manufacturers to develop healthier recipes. It's just that healthy is often more expensive too, which makes this measure a double-edged sword, especially for people on a tighter budget.
What will this cost you?
The government expects the sugar tax to raise around €900 million a year. That works out at an average of roughly €50 per person in the Netherlands per year.
If you only have the occasional treat, you'll hardly notice. But are you a real sweet tooth? Then that amount could easily add up.