Increasing taxes on fruit juices, sugary drinks and alcohol is essential to curb the rising burden of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers and injuries, especially among children and young adults, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
In two new global reports, the WHO flagged concerns that sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are becoming cheaper due to consistently low tax rates in most countries.
While more than 100 countries tax sugary drinks such as sodas, other high-sugar products, including 100 per cent fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas, often escape taxation. The median tax on these products accounts for only about 2 per cent of the price of a common sugary soda.
In addition, only a few countries adjust taxes for inflation, allowing health-harming products to become steadily more affordable.
Due to their low cost, these harmful products are generating billions of dollars in profits. Meanwhile, health systems across the globe are facing mounting financial pressure from preventable non-communicable diseases and injuries, the WHO said, while calling on governments to significantly strengthen taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages.
“Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“By increasing taxes on products like tobacco, sugary drinks and alcohol, governments can reduce harmful consumption and unlock funds for vital health services,” he added.
In a separate report, the WHO stated that alcohol has become more affordable, or remained unchanged in price, in most countries since 2022, despite clear health risks. At least 167 countries levy taxes on alcoholic beverages, while 12 ban alcohol entirely.
The WHO found that across regions, tax shares on alcohol remain low, with global excise share medians of 14 per cent for beer and 22.5 per cent for spirits.
“More affordable alcohol drives violence, injuries and disease,” said Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention.
“While industry profits, the public often carries the health consequences and society bears the economic costs,” Krug said.
The WHO called on countries to raise and redesign taxes and increase the real prices of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks by 2035, making them less affordable over time to help protect people’s health.
–IANS
