[Health-related food taxes and the new Dutch government: from ambitions to real measures]. / Gezondheidsbelastingen in Rutte IV.

The new Dutch government has the ambition to implement several health-related food taxes. We provide an evidence-based agenda for improving population health with these policy ambitions. First, we argue that a sugary drinks tax should be at least 10, preferably 20%, comparable to the UK sugar industry levy. The new government omits alcohol, whereas Minimum Unit Pricing provides a proportionate measure for decreasing alcohol abuse. A broader tax on unhealthy foods, such as a tax on foods high in added sugar, and a zero rate on value-added taxes for fruits and vegetables, are effective in improving overall diet. However, these policies will encounter more legal and technical hurdles, although there are proofs of success in other countries. The listed policy ambitions will have a higher chance of success if implementation issues are seriously considered, and if public health goals are coupled to goals of public finance and environmental sustainability.