The World Health Organization urged for higher taxes on alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages as a means to curb deaths associated with alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets.
According to WHO’s press statement on Tuesday, approximately 2.6 million people globally die annually due to alcohol consumption and over eight million due to unhealthy dietary habits.
The WHO emphasized that implementing taxes on alcohol and SSBs could potentially lower these fatalities.
Recent data released by the WHO highlighted the global scenario, revealing that taxes on such unhealthy products remained relatively low.
The findings underscored that a majority of countries were not leveraging taxes effectively to encourage healthier behaviors.
“Half of all countries taxing SSBs are also taxing water, which is not recommended by WHO. Although 108 countries are taxing some sort of sugar-sweetened beverage, globally, on the average excise tax, a tax designated for a specified consumer product, represents just 6.6 per cent of the price of soda.
“At least 148 countries have applied excise taxes to alcoholic beverages at the national level. However, wine is exempted from excise taxes in at least 22 countries, most of which are in the European region.
The World Health Organization stated, “On a global scale, the excise tax comprises, on average, 17.2 percent of the price for the most popular brand of beer. Meanwhile, for the most popular type of spirits, it accounts for 26.5 percent of the price.”
In a study conducted in 2017, it was revealed that implementing taxes resulting in a 50 percent increase in alcohol prices could prevent more than 21 million deaths within a span of 50 years.
Additionally, such taxation measures could generate almost $17 trillion in extra revenues.
This amount is comparable to the combined government revenue of eight of the world’s largest economies within a single year.
“Taxing unhealthy products creates healthier populations. It has a positive ripple effect across society – less disease and debilitation and revenue for governments to provide public services. In the case of alcohol, taxes also help prevent violence and road traffic injuries,” said WHO Director for Health Promotion, Dr Rűdiger Krech.
