WHO urges governments to raise taxes on alcohol, sugary drinks to curb rising health risks
WHO calls for higher health taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks to reduce consumption and boost public health funding.
GLOBAL – The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments worldwide to raise and redesign taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks as part of a renewed global health initiative aimed at reducing preventable diseases.
The agency warned that beverages such as alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks are widely available and remain too affordable in many countries, contributing to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and injury. WHO said stronger fiscal policies could play a critical role in reversing these trends.
“Health taxes have been shown to reduce consumption of these harmful products, helping to prevent disease and reduce the burden on health systems,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists. “At the same time, they generate an income stream that governments can use to invest in health, education and social protection.”
WHO’s call follows the release of two new reports examining global taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol. The report on sugary drink taxes shows that at least 116 countries currently impose levies on products such as sodas and carbonated drinks.
However, other high-sugar beverages, including 100% fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas, often remain untaxed.
The alcohol tax report found that while 167 countries levy taxes on beer, wine, and spirits, alcohol has become more affordable or has remained unchanged in price in most countries since 2022. WHO attributed this trend to taxes that are not adjusted for inflation or income growth.
Most countries rely on volume-based excise taxes for beer and wine, while spirits are typically taxed based on alcohol content. According to WHO, “The global median excise tax shares are low for both beer (20.9% of retail price) and spirits (28.4% of retail price).”
The organisation also noted that wine is untaxed in at least 25 countries, mainly in Europe, despite well-documented health risks. WHO recommended that alcohol taxes be applied to all beverage types “to avoid incentivising undesirable substitutions.”
In July, WHO launched its “3 by 35 Initiative,” which aims to increase the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035 through tax increases tailored to national contexts.
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