Zuckersteuer
In short
A sugar tax is a levy placed on drinks or foods with high sugar content to discourage consumption.
In plain words
Governments add extra cost to sugary products. This makes unhealthy items more expensive so people buy less of them. The money raised often goes towards public health projects.
A simple example
A bottle of fizzy cola might cost 50p more because of the tax. This encourages shoppers to choose water or unsweetened juice instead.
Why it matters
It helps reduce rates of obesity and tooth decay. It also provides extra funding for the healthcare system to treat diet-related illnesses.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse this with a general sales tax or VAT, which applies to almost all goods regardless of health impact.