Starting in 2027, the tax on sparkling wine in Germany will be increased by 20 percent, just like the tax on spirits. For a 0.75-liter bottle of sparkling wine, the tax will rise from the current 1.02 euros to around 1.22 euros. Additionally, there will be a value-added tax surcharge. Overall, it will increase by about 24 cents. All domestic and foreign sparkling wines with a carbon dioxide pressure of at least 3 bar and more than 6% alcohol by volume are affected. This includes, for example, sparkling wine, champagne, and Prosecco Spumante. The tax amount for fruit and fruit sparkling wines with an alcohol content of less than 6% will rise from 38 cents per bottle to 54 cents. In the previous year, taxes on 281.5 million sold bottles of sparkling wine generated 325.7 million euros for the German Ministry of Finance, according to Statistisches Bundesamt Destatis.

The increase in the alcohol tax is expected to lead to additional revenues of 400 to 455 million euros. The Ministry of Finance also cites health policy reasons. However, wine and beer are not affected. Commentators see this as a sign that the government does not want to further burden these two sectors, which are already suffering from sales crises, and jeopardize their competitiveness.

(al; Image: Gemini AI)

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