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City imposes 'sex tax'
22/12/2003 08:41 - (SA)
Germany - The German city of Cologne is to introduce a "sex tax" from next year - and estimates it could profit by up to €2m a year from the red-light industry.
The tax will be imposed on prostitutes, erotic sauna clubs, massage salons and similar establishments. For brothels, the tax will work out at €150 per bed per month, a city spokesperson said.
"I would not be surprised if the costs are passed on to customers," she added.
Jens Metzger, from the North Rhine-Westphalia state Staedtetag, an organisation representing municipal authorities, said many German cities had already imposed taxes on sex trade fairs and "erotic dancing" clubs.
"However, an entertainment tax on prostitutes is new to me," he said.
The tax will also apply to circuses and funfairs, but it is the sex business which could help most to help fill Cologne's empty coffers.
"We are a big city and because of this have a lot of these type of offers. We estimate revenue of up to €2m," the city spokesperson said.
Metzger believes other local authorities will be looking closely at Cologne's "sex tax". In a change in the law, municipal authorities are now able to decide themselves how they impose entertainment taxes. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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