To halt alcohol-related mortality and bad behaviors, the World Health Organisation is advocating for higher taxes on alcohol and beverages with added sugar.
According to a release from the WHO, over eight million people worldwide pass away from an unhealthy diet, and 2.6 million people die from alcohol consumption annually.
It claimed that taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and alcohol would lower these fatalities.
WHO reported yesterday that there were low levies on unhealthy products including alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) throughout the world.
The results demonstrated that most nations were not using taxes as a means of encouraging healthier lifestyles.
“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 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.
“Globally, on average, the excise tax share in the price of the most sold brand of beer is 17.2 per cent. For the most sold brand of the most sold spirits type, it is 26.5 per cent,” WHO said.
WHO Director for Health Promotion, Dr Rűdiger Krech said, “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.
