The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments worldwide to significantly raise taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol, warning that these products remain too cheap and widely available, contributing to major public health crises.
WHO highlighted that easy access to sugary beverages and alcohol fuels obesity, diabetes, cancer, injuries, and other preventable diseases, while placing immense strain on already overstretched health systems.
“Health taxes have been shown to reduce consumption of these harmful products,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus said. “They also generate revenue that governments can invest in health, education, and social protection,” Punch reported.
The agency noted that while at least 116 countries currently tax sugary drinks, many high-sugar products—such as 100% fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas—remain untaxed. Regular consumption of sugary drinks increases the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dental problems, and osteoporosis. Alcohol, meanwhile, is linked to poor mental health, maternal and child health risks, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and a higher likelihood of injuries.
WHO pointed to the UK’s sugar tax, introduced in 2018, as evidence of the approach’s effectiveness. The policy reduced sugar consumption, generated £338 million in revenue in 2024 alone, and lowered obesity rates among young girls—especially in poorer communities.
The organization is now calling on governments to raise and redesign taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks as part of a broader strategy to protect public health and reduce preventable deaths. On alcohol, WHO noted that while 167 countries tax beer, wine, and spirits, affordability has increased in many areas because taxes have not kept pace with inflation or rising incomes since 2022.
