WHO Sounds Alarm: Cheap Sugary Drinks & Alcohol Fuel Global Health Crisis

Why Affordability Matters to Health

In most countries, taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol have remained too low or poorly designed, failing to keep prices in line with inflation and income growth. This means products like soft drinks, sweetened milk beverages, alcoholic beer, wine, and spirits are more accessible — especially to children, adolescents, and young adults. (Philstar.com)

According to WHO’s data:

• At least 116 countries levy taxes on sugary drinks, but many high-sugar products (like fruit juices and ready-to-drink teas) escape taxation. (Philstar.com)

• At least 167 countries tax alcoholic beverages, yet affordability has not significantly increased in most nations since 2022. (Philstar.com)

• Wine is untaxed in many countries despite clear links to health risks. (Philstar.com)

When harmful products are cheaper, consumption rises — and so do health risks.

The Health Toll of Cheap Sugary Drinks & Alcohol

Sugary Drinks

Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with:

• Higher rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes, due to excess calories and sugar intake

• Cardiovascular disease through elevated blood sugar and inflammation

• Dental decay and other metabolic disorders (Organisation mondiale de la santé)

Alcohol

Even moderate or occasional alcohol use is linked to:

• Cancer and cardiovascular disease

• Injuries, violence, and accidents

• Social and mental health harms (Organisation mondiale de la santé)

A WHO Europe analysis reports that alcohol contributes to nearly 800,000 deaths annually across the region, with cardiovascular issues and cancers as leading causes. (Organisation mondiale de la santé)

Why Taxation Is a Core WHO Strategy

The WHO emphasises that health taxes — levies on products with negative health impacts — are among the most effective tools for disease prevention. Higher taxes can:

• Make unhealthy products less affordable and reduce consumption

• Generate revenue for health systems and public services

• Support broader disease-prevention strategies (Organisation mondiale de la santé)

WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated:

“Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease…” (Philstar.com)

To achieve this, WHO has launched the “3 by 35” initiative, aiming to raise the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by 2035 through smarter and stronger taxation — making these harmful products less affordable over time. (Philstar.com)

Examples of Successful Taxation Policies

Some countries have already shown promising results:

• The UK’s sugar-tax regime introduced in 2018 led to reduced sugar consumption and generated significant public revenue, particularly benefiting child health. (NEWSVERGE)

• Other nations are reviewing and redesigning tax structures to close loopholes that allow high-sugar products to remain cheap. (NEWSVERGE)

What This Means for Global Health

Despite widespread acknowledgement of the health risks, the pace of tax reforms remains slow in many regions. Yet the evidence is clear: pricing policies that reduce affordability of harmful products save lives and relieve pressure on health systems. (Organisation mondiale de la santé)

As global rates of NCDs continue to rise, especially in younger populations, WHO and public health advocates urge governments to act now to protect future generations and boost long-term health outcomes worldwide. (Organisation mondiale de la santé)

Key Takeaways

✅ Cheap sugary drinks & alcohol are linked with obesity, diabetes, cancer, and injuries. (Philstar.com)
✅ Weak tax policies make harmful products too affordable. (Philstar.com)
✅ WHO urges stronger taxes to curb consumption and raise health funding. (Philstar.com)
✅ Examples like the UK show taxation can reduce disease burden. (NEWSVERGE)