WHO Warns of Increased Accessibility of Harmful Drinks and Calls for New Taxes

Sugar-sweetened and alcoholic beverages have become increasingly economically accessible in most countries due to persistently low tax rates. This situation is contributing to a rise in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, various types of cancer, and injuries, with particularly visible effects on girls, boys, adolescents, and young adults. This warning is part of two new global reports published by the World Health Organization (WHO), which indicate that current tax systems allow products harmful to health to remain cheap, while health systems face growing financial pressure from preventable diseases and injuries. From the WHO's perspective, health-focused taxes represent one of the most effective instruments for reducing the consumption of harmful products and, at the same time, generating resources to finance essential services. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that increasing taxes on products such as tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages helps reduce harmful consumption and free up economic resources that can be allocated to strengthening health systems. The global market for sugar-sweetened and alcoholic beverages generates billions of dollars in profits, favoring their wide availability and consumption. However, governments capture only a limited fraction of that value through health-motivated taxes, leaving societies to bear the long-term costs in terms of health and productivity. The reports warn that this fiscal asymmetry allows products to remain accessible, while the economic and health consequences associated with their consumption deepen. Sugar-sweetened beverages: incomplete tax coverage The WHO documents that at least 116 countries impose taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, mainly on soft drinks. Additionally, few countries adjust their taxes for inflation, which allows these products to become progressively more affordable. These trends persist despite a 2022 Gallup survey showing that most people support higher taxes on alcoholic and sugar-sweetened beverages. The '3 by 35' initiative and a call to action In this context, the WHO urges governments to increase and redesign health taxes as part of its new '3 by 35' initiative, which aims to raise the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages by 2035, gradually reducing their affordability. The organization emphasizes that this strategy seeks to protect public health, reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases, and strengthen the financial sustainability of health systems through evidence-based fiscal policies. Alcohol: greater affordability despite risks A parallel WHO analysis shows that 167 countries tax alcoholic beverages, while 12 countries completely prohibit alcohol. The low tax burden drives chronic diseases and preventable injuries. The Director of the WHO's Department for Social Determinants of Health, Promotion and Prevention, Etienne Krug, warned that cheaper alcohol is associated with higher levels of violence, injuries, and disease, while economic benefits are concentrated in the industry and the consequences fall on the population and public finances. Persistent fiscal patterns and social response The WHO identified that globally, the proportion of special taxes on alcohol remains low, with a median of 14% for beer and 22.5% for spirits. However, other high-sugar products, such as 100% fruit juices, sweetened dairy drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees or teas, are outside tax schemes in numerous countries. Although 97% of countries tax energy drinks, this proportion has not changed since the 2023 global report, reflecting a lack of policy updates against market evolution. In terms of impact, the average tax represents around 2% of the price of a common sugary drink and is usually applied only to a part of the market, leaving wide segments without effective fiscal regulation. Wine is not taxed in at least 25 countries, mainly in Europe, despite clear evidence of its health risks. This note, as well as reports, exclusive interviews, videos, podcasts and more, you can find in our next special digital edition of 'Temas Selectos en Salud'.