WHO Calls for 50% Tax Hike on Alcohol, Tobacco & Sugary Drinks to Combat Chronic Disease – A game Changer for Public Health?
[WORLD-TODAY-NEWS.COM] – The world Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments worldwide to significantly increase taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and sugary drinks – by a substantial 50% – as a key strategy to fight the rising tide of chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. This bold proposal, if implemented, could reshape public health landscapes and dramatically alter consumer behavior.
Chronic diseases represent a “huge burden” on healthcare systems globally [[source]], frequently enough requiring long-term, costly care. In quebec, for example, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) estimates that 70-80% of total health costs are linked to these conditions [[source]].
This isn’t a new concept. Research consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of “health taxes” on unhealthy products. excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages have been shown to reduce consumption and generate revenue [[1]]. the World Bank Group also highlights the link between consumption of these products and non-communicable diseases [[3]].
Furthermore, concerns about illicit markets being bolstered by increased taxes are largely unfounded. Evidence suggests that any increase in illicit sales is outweighed by the public health benefits of reduced overall consumption and increased tax revenue [[2]]. In fact, tax increases on regulated products often lead to price increases in the illicit market as well.
According to Roxane Borgès Da Silva, a professor at the University of Montreal public health school, the goal is to identify “the price level threshold that will make people stop” consuming these harmful products
