Encouraging healthier and sustainable choices? Make it more expensive!
The coalition agreement states that the tax will be reduced from 1 January 2024 196 percent increases for non-alcoholic drinks such as lemonade, fruit juices and soft drinks. The tax will increase from €8.83 in 2022 to €26.13 per 100 liters. Good news, right? We have been saying for years that unhealthy products should be taxed more and healthy products less. Just last week, doctors, policymakers, organizations and scientists called for the to abolish VAT on fruit and vegetables. By taking these measures, you encourage a healthier lifestyle.
However, there is one small 'but'... An exception has been made for milk and other dairy products from the soft drink tax. The tax on these products will therefore not be increased. The tax is being increased for the recently emerging plant-based alternatives, such as oat, soy, almond or coconut milk. This led to a lot criticism within politics and society.
Reason enough for the Party for the Animals to ask questions to the State Secretary. Long story short: it Cabinet adheres to the Wheel of Five. This does include dairy products, but not substitutes. From January 1, 2024, you will pay more tax for your unsweetened oat milk than for your chocolate milk. What's next? Should you also abolish VAT on Red Band Dropfruit duos because they contain carrot and blackcurrant concentrate? And that falls within the Wheel of Five?
Unfortunately, it does not appear that the government intends to reverse the decisions. Yet it remains strange, because it is not only the replacement for milk that is becoming more expensive. But also the replacement for alcoholic drinks. The tax on non-alcoholic beer and wine will also increase with this measure. On the one hand, we want to encourage a healthier and more sustainable life, but we want to place a heavier burden on the alternatives for a healthier and more sustainable life. Double standards if you ask us.
BNNVARA calls it 'a gain for the dairy lobby'. Is that right? Who from the field have these measures been discussed with? Should companies like Oatly and Alpro have had more influence here? Who had influence or who had no influence on it? We are curious. It's a shame about the oat milk and non-alcoholic beer.
