The Citizens’ Assembly in Switzerland has proposed a tax on sugary foods and drinks as part of six reforms aimed at improving public health, which also includes higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco, enhanced health literacy, and stricter advertising restrictions.
The Citizens’ Assembly in Switzerland, composed of 100 randomly selected individuals, has endorsed proposals aimed at improving public health through a tax on sugary foods and drinks. This tax is part of a larger package of six reforms developed over five months, addressing urgent health promotion and prevention needs identified by the public.
The assembly advocates for higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco to discourage unhealthy consumption, stating that these financial disincentives make poor choices less appealing.
One of the most supported proposals focuses on enhancing health literacy, aiming to equip individuals with the knowledge necessary to make informed choices about their diet, physical activity, and mental well-being through improved education and training for health professionals. Additional recommendations include establishing a national health law, creating a national center for health promotion and prevention, and launching public-awareness campaigns to highlight health-related issues.
The assembly also considered legislative measures such as nutrition training and food-label literacy, alongside advocating for stricter advertising restrictions for alcohol and nicotine products to support healthier decisions. Four proposals, including one to eliminate subsidies for alcohol and tobacco production, did not receive majority support.
The assembly’s final report will be submitted to Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider on May 20th, paving the way for discussion among political representatives within the current policy framework. The initiative, led by the universities of Geneva and Zurich and coordinated by the Centre for Democracy Studies in Aarau, aims to demonstrate how citizen assemblies can enhance democratic debate on complex and contentious issues. Daniel Kübler, a co-initiator, emphasized the potential for consensus through respectful dialogue among diverse participants.
