Significant Changes in Special Consumption Taxes – Consumer Health as the Guiding Principle

Although the government may have ruled out any reduction in VAT for the foreseeable future (at least until 2027), it seems this stance does not apply to other indirect taxes, specifically special consumption taxes (SCT). According to reliable sources at newsit.gr, officials at the Ministry of Finance are studying a strategy to adjust SCT rates based on the healthiness of the products they are applied to. Specifically, an increase in SCTs is being considered for unhealthy products such as tobacco and alcoholic beverages, while a decrease is proposed for less harmful or purely healthy products. This approach would reduce SCTs and final prices for certain widely consumed healthy goods while increasing them for unhealthy ones. Sources indicate this method would promote healthier product consumption without fiscal losses, addressing broader public demands for reduced indirect consumption taxes, which are generally regressive and disproportionately affect lower-income consumers.