Government considers tax on processed sugars

©Chris van Dyck/Flickr

The executive is considering a tax on processed sugars, focused on sweets and sugary drinks. Objective: to save 5 billion euros to feed the Social Security, while slowing down catastrophic eating habits. But the measure, defended by the Minister of Health Geneviève Darrieussecq, is struggling to convince everyone.

You want a sweet or salty tax ? While MPs are working on the Social Security budget for 2025, the idea of ​​an “anti-sugar” tax is becoming clearer. “Yes, I am in favor of taxes on processed sugars,” the minister said in La Tribune Dimanche. The idea is not to penalize traders, pastry chefs and artisans would be spared, but the wallet would take a hit if it was necessary to buy sweet flavored beers, strong alcohol or more generally processed products.

For some observers, this is primarily a new budgetary lever; for others, it is yet another signal in the fight against chronic diseases. The Social Affairs Committee supports the measure, although a complete revision of this bill remains on the agenda within the Assembly.

As reported by Le Figaro, more than 2,200 amendments are already on the table for the Social Security budget. In addition to this idea of ​​taxation, the issue of reimbursement of care raises just as many questions. Indeed, the government has also submitted the idea of ​​reducing reimbursement from 70% to 60% for certain consultations, which could lead to an increase in supplementary insurance contributions, weighing in fine on the most modest households.

If the subject is the health of the French, and a little money to be made for the Social Security, perhaps we can instead count on a reduction in sugar rather than a reduction in care ?

You liked the article ? It mobilized our editorial staff, which lives only on your donations.
Information has a cost, especially since competition from subsidized editorial staff requires increased rigor and of professionalism.

With your support, France-Soir will continue to offer its articles for free  because we believe that everyone should have access to free and independent information to form their own opinion.

You are the sine qua non condition for our existence, support us so that France-Soir remains the French media that allows the most legitimate voices to be expressed.