Global Health Alert: WHO Pushes for Higher Taxes on Alcohol and Sugary Beverages
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a call for action, urging governments to implement heightened taxes on alcohol and sugary beverages in response to the alarming annual death toll of 10.6 million linked to these unhealthy habits.
As per the WHO’s press statement on Tuesday, a staggering 2.6 million individuals globally succumb to alcohol-related deaths each year, with an additional eight million fatalities associated with an unhealthy diet. The organization emphasizes the need for taxes on alcohol and sugary beverages to serve as a deterrent and reduce these alarming mortality rates.
However, recent data from the WHO paints a grim picture of the global approach, revealing a low rate of taxes applied to products classified as unhealthy. Surprisingly, many countries are not leveraging taxes to incentivize healthier choices, highlighting a significant gap in public health strategies.
Breaking down the data, it is revealed that 108 countries levy taxes on various sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Intriguingly, half of these countries are also taxing water, a practice discouraged by the WHO. On a global scale, the excise tax, specifically designated for a particular consumer product, constitutes a mere 6.6 percent of the price of soda on average.
Further dissecting the findings, it is disclosed that 148 countries have implemented excise taxes on alcoholic beverages at the national level. However, wine enjoys exemption from excise taxes in at least 22 countries, primarily in the European Region. The average excise tax share in the price of the most sold brand of beer globally is 17.2 percent, while for the most sold brand of the most sold spirit type, it is 26.5 percent.
Drawing attention to a 2017 study, the WHO underscores the potential impact of taxes capable of raising alcohol prices by 50 percent. Such measures could prevent over 21 million deaths over a span of 50 years and generate nearly $17 trillion in additional revenues. This substantial amount is equivalent to the combined government revenue of eight of the world’s largest economies within a single year.
Dr. Rűdiger Krech, the WHO Director for Health Promotion, highlights the positive outcomes of taxing unhealthy products, including creating healthier populations, reducing disease, and generating revenue for governments to fund essential services. The example of Lithuania serves as a notable case where increased alcohol taxes in 2017 contributed to a significant reduction in alcohol-related deaths.