LOW TAX ON SUGARY DRINKS AND ALCOHOL LEADS TO HIGHER OBESITY AND ILLNESS, WHO SAYS
Sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are becoming cheaper around the world, and the World Health Organisation says this is already helping push up rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and injuries, especially among young people. In two new global reports, the WHO calls on governments to strengthen taxes on these drinks to cut harmful consumption and reduce health care pressure.
WHY CHEAPER DRINKS MATTER TO YOUR HEALTH
Sugary drinks like sodas, sweetened milks and ready-to-drink teas, along with beer, wine and spirits, are more affordable today because taxes in most countries are too low or poorly designed. This makes them easy to buy and drink regularly and that fuels avoidable health problems.
The WHO reports show that even though at least 116 countries tax sugary drinks, many sugary products escape the tax net entirely. Likewise, 167 countries tax alcohol, yet prices have stayed flat or fallen since 2022 because taxes aren't adjusted for inflation and income gains. Wine is still untaxed in many nations, despite clear health risks.
LOW TAXES LEAD TO MORE HEALTH PROBLEMS
According to the WHO reports, low tax levels mean:
- Alcohol prices are too low, with global excise shares around 14% for beer and about 22.5% for spirits.
- Taxes on sugary drinks often add only about 2% to the price of a common soda.
- Few countries update their tax rates for inflation, so drinks get steadily cheaper over time.
When drinks are affordable, people drink more. That leads to:
- More obesity and type 2 diabetes,
- Higher risks of heart disease and cancer,
- Greater chances of accidents and injuries linked to alcohol.
WHAT WHO IS URGING GOVERNMENTS TO DO
The WHO says better health taxes can do more than slow harmful consumption. They also raise revenue that can go into public services such as health, education and social protection. "Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease," the WHO director-general has said.
As part of a new initiative called 3 by 35, the WHO wants countries to aim to raise the real prices of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks by 2035 through smarter, stronger taxation. That would make these products less affordable and encourage healthier choices.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS
With cheaper drinks widely available, children and young people are more at risk. Higher sugar intake is already linked to excess weight and dental problems, while alcohol use raises the chance of injuries and long-term health issues. Stronger taxes aim to slow consumption and ease these trends.
WHO's call comes as health systems worldwide struggle under rising costs from preventable disease. Countries that have tested higher drink taxes like the UK with its sugary drink levy have seen consumption fall and health budgets benefit.
2026-01-14T05:56:11Z