Cheaper Sugary Drinks and Alcohol Drive Rise in Noncommunicable Diseases

Sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are becoming increasingly affordable in many countries, a trend that the World Health Organization (WHO) warns is accelerating the rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries, particularly among children and young adults.

In two new global reports released on Wednesday, WHO called on governments to urgently strengthen taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol, warning that weak and outdated tax systems are allowing harmful products to remain cheap while public health systems struggle under the growing burden of preventable diseases.

Low taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol, the agency says, is fueling higher consumption rates that contribute to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, violence and road traffic injuries.

“Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “By increasing taxes on products like tobacco, sugary drinks and alcohol, governments can reduce harmful consumption and unlock funds for vital health services.”

According to the reports, the global market for sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages generates billions of dollars in profit annually. However, governments capture only a small fraction of this value through health-related taxes, leaving societies to shoulder the long-term health and economic costs linked to rising NCDs and injuries.

WHO data show that at least 116 countries currently tax sugary drinks, mainly sodas. Yet many high-sugar products, including 100 percent fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas, remain largely untaxed. Although 97 percent of countries tax energy drinks, this figure has not changed since the last global assessment in 2023.

Alcohol taxation faces similar challenges. A separate WHO report found that at least 167 countries levy taxes on alcoholic beverages, while 12 countries ban alcohol entirely. Despite this, alcohol has become more affordable, or its price has remained unchanged, in most countries since 2022, as taxes have failed to keep pace with inflation and income growth.

Wine remains untaxed in at least 25 countries, most of them in Europe, despite well-established links between alcohol consumption and serious health risks.

“More affordable alcohol drives violence, injuries and disease,” said Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention. “While industry profits, the public often carries the health consequences and society the economic costs.”

Globally, WHO found that excise taxes on alcohol remain low, with median tax shares of just 14 percent for beer and 22.5 percent for spirits. Sugary drink taxes are even weaker, with the median tax accounting for only about two percent of the retail price of a common sugary soda. In many cases, these taxes apply only to a limited range of beverages, leaving large portions of the market untouched.

The agency also noted that few countries regularly adjust health taxes for inflation, allowing sugary drinks and alcohol to become steadily more affordable over time.

These trends persist despite strong public support for higher taxes. A 2022 Gallup poll found that a majority of respondents supported increased taxes on alcohol and sugary beverages.

In response, WHO is urging countries to raise and redesign health taxes under its new “3 by 35” initiative, which aims to increase the real prices of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks by 2035. The goal is to make these products less affordable over time, reduce consumption, and help protect public health while generating revenue for health systems.