A Citizens’ Assembly has come out in favour of introducing a tax on sugary drinks and foods as part of a series of proposals to promote public health.
The panel also supports raising existing taxes on alcohol and tobacco. The aim is to reduce consumption by making these products less affordable.
The Assembly says such incentive taxes could play a key role in improving the population’s overall health.
The Citizens’ Assembly was launched as part of a federal pilot project aimed at involving the public more directly in policymaking. The 100 participants were selected at random from across Switzerland to reflect the country’s linguistic, regional, and demographic diversity. Over several weekends, they received expert input and held discussions before voting on a set of recommendations.
Their final report will be submitted to Federal Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider on May 20th.
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