WHO Urges Health-Tax Overhaul as Sugary Drinks and Alcohol Grow Cheaper

Overview

• Two global reports released Jan. 13–14 find sugary drinks became more affordable in 62 countries since 2022 and beer in 56, complicating efforts to curb non-communicable diseases.
• At least 116 countries tax sugary drinks and 167 tax alcohol, yet the median levy adds about 2% to a soda’s price and excise shares medians are about 14% for beer and 22.5% for spirits.
• WHO flags poor tax design, with few systems indexed to inflation or income and many sugary products—such as fruit juices, sweetened milks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas—left untaxed.
• The agency urges countries to adopt its 3 by 35 plan to raise real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by 2035, projecting as much as $1 trillion in revenue by then.
• Leaders warn of political resistance from powerful industries and note gaps such as wine remaining untaxed in at least 25 countries, mostly in Europe, even as examples like the UK’s levy show health and revenue gains.