Germany's Top Health CEO Demands Tougher Laws on Alcohol and Tobacco

Dr. Carola Reimann, CEO of AOK, has called for a new prevention law at the German Prevention Summit. She argues that current efforts under the 2015 Prevention Act are not strong enough to improve public health. Her proposals include stricter controls on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to create healthier environments.

Reimann highlighted that Germany's healthy life expectancy falls below the EU average, despite high spending on healthcare. She stressed that individual prevention alone has limited impact when environments encourage unhealthy habits. Instead, she advocates for a 'Health in All Policies' approach, integrating health goals across government departments.

She pointed to successful examples abroad. The UK introduced plain cigarette packaging, raised tobacco taxes annually, and added a sugar tax on soft drinks—cutting sugary drink consumption by 16% in two years. The Netherlands also increased alcohol taxes, tightened advertising rules, and expanded tobacco controls, leading to a 20% drop in youth smoking and a 12% reduction in alcohol-related hospital admissions.

Reimann's proposed measures include restricting access to harmful products and raising excise duties. She also wants stronger primary prevention, particularly for children and older adults. Her call aligns with growing political and public support for higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol.

She sees untapped potential in promoting healthier diets and reducing tobacco and alcohol use. A cross-departmental strategy, she argues, would go beyond the current scope of the Social Security Code (SGB V).

Reimann's push for a revised prevention law aims to shift focus from individual responsibility to systemic change. If adopted, stricter regulations on unhealthy products could reshape public health outcomes. The proposal now faces debate among policymakers and health experts.