Latest news with #healthtaxes
Japan Times
04-07-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
WHO pushes countries to raise prices on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50%
The World Health Organization is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50% over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems. The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases such as diabetes and some cancers, as well as raising money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising. "Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have," said Jeremy Farrar, WHO assistant-director general of health promotion and disease prevention and control. "It's time to act." The WHO launched the push, which it called "3 by 35" at the U.N. Finance for Development conference in Seville, Spain. The agency said that its tax initiative could raise $1 trillion by 2035 based on evidence from health taxes in countries such as Colombia and South Africa. The WHO has backed tobacco taxes and price rises for decades, and has called for taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks in recent years, but this is the first time it has suggested a target price rise for all three products. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the conference that the taxes could help governments "adjust to the new reality" and bolster their own health systems with the money raised. Many low and middle-income countries are coping with cuts to aid spending led by the United States, which is not attending the Seville conference. The U.S. is also in the process of withdrawing from the WHO. As an example, the initiative would mean a government in a middle-income country raising taxes on the product to push the price up from $4 today to $10 by 2035, taking into account inflation, said WHO health economist Guillermo Sandoval. Nearly 140 countries had already raised tobacco taxes and therefore prices by over 50% on average between 2012 and 2022, the WHO added. Sandoval said the WHO was also considering broader taxation recommendations, including on ultra-processed food, after the agency finalizes its definition of that type of food in the coming months. But he added that the agency expected pushback from the industries involved. "It's deeply concerning that the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to disregard over a decade of clear evidence showing that taxing sugar-sweetened beverages has never improved health outcomes or reduced obesity in any country,' said Kate Loatman, executive director of the International Council of Beverages Associations, adding that the industry was working on options to support health. "The World Health Organization's suggestion that raising taxes will prevent alcohol-related harm is misguided,' said Amanda Berger, senior vice president of science and research at the Distilled Spirits Council, adding that it would not prevent alcohol abuse. The International Food and Beverage Alliance's Secretary General, Rocco Renaldi, said in a statement that it welcomed the WHO's drive to strengthen health systems but "warns against grouping sugar-sweetened beverages alongside inherently harmful goods like tobacco." The tax initiative is backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and involves support for countries who want to take action.
Reuters
03-07-2025
- Health
- Reuters
WHO pushes countries to raise prices on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50%
LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50% over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems. The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and some cancers, as well as raising money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising. "Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have," said Jeremy Farrar, WHO assistant-director general of health promotion and disease prevention and control. "It's time to act." The WHO launched the push, which it called "3 by 35" at the UN Finance for Development conference in Seville. WHO said that its tax initiative could raise $1 trillion by 2035 based on evidence from health taxes in countries such as Colombia and South Africa. The WHO has backed tobacco taxes and price rises for decades, and has called for taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks in recent years, but this is the first time it has suggested a target price rise for all three products. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the conference that the taxes could help governments "adjust to the new reality" and bolster their own health systems with the money raised. Many low and middle-income countries are coping with cuts to aid spending led by the United States, which is not attending the Seville conference. The U.S. is also in the process of withdrawing from the WHO. FROM $4 to $10 As an example, the initiative would mean a government in a middle-income country raising taxes on the product to push the price up from $4 today to $10 by 2035, taking into account inflation, said WHO health economist Guillermo Sandoval. Nearly 140 countries had already raised tobacco taxes and therefore prices by over 50% on average between 2012 and 2022, the WHO added. Sandoval said the WHO was also considering broader taxation recommendations, including on ultra-processed food, after the agency finalises its definition of that type of food in the coming months. But he added that the agency expected pushback from the industries involved. 'It's deeply concerning that the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to disregard over a decade of clear evidence showing that taxing sugar-sweetened beverages has never improved health outcomes or reduced obesity in any country,' said Kate Loatman, executive director of the International Council of Beverages Associations, adding that the industry was working on options to support health. 'The World Health Organization's suggestion that raising taxes will prevent alcohol-related harm is misguided,'said Amanda Berger, senior vice president of science and research at the Distilled Spirits Council, adding that it would not prevent alcohol abuse. The tax initiative is backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and involves support for countries who want to take action.
CTV News
03-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
WHO pushes countries to raise prices on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50%
LONDON -- The World Health Organization is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50% over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems. The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and some cancers, as well as raising money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising. 'Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have,' said Jeremy Farrar, WHO assistant-director general of health promotion and disease prevention and control. 'It's time to act.' The WHO launched the push, which it called '3 by 35' at the UN Finance for Development conference in Seville. WHO said that its tax initiative could raise US$1 trillion by 2035 based on evidence from health taxes in countries such as Colombia and South Africa. The WHO has backed tobacco taxes and price rises for decades, and has called for taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks in recent years, but this is the first time it has suggested a target price rise for all three products. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the conference that the taxes could help governments 'adjust to the new reality' and bolster their own health systems with the money raised. Many low and middle-income countries are coping with cuts to aid spending led by the United States, which is not attending the Seville conference. The U.S. is also in the process of withdrawing from the WHO. From $4 to $10 As an example, the initiative would mean a government in a middle-income country raising taxes on the product to push the price up from $4 today to $10 by 2035, taking into account inflation, said WHO health economist Guillermo Sandoval. Nearly 140 countries had already raised tobacco taxes and therefore prices by over 50% on average between 2012 and 2022, the WHO added. Sandoval said the WHO was also considering broader taxation recommendations, including on ultra-processed food, after the agency finalizes its definition of that type of food in the coming months. But he added that the agency expected pushback from the industries involved. 'It's deeply concerning that the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to disregard over a decade of clear evidence showing that taxing sugar-sweetened beverages has never improved health outcomes or reduced obesity in any country,' said Kate Loatman, executive director of the International Council of Beverages Associations, adding that the industry was working on options to support health. 'The World Health Organization's suggestion that raising taxes will prevent alcohol-related harm is misguided,' said Amanda Berger, senior vice-president of science and research at the Distilled Spirits Council, adding that it would not prevent alcohol abuse. The tax initiative is backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and involves support for countries who want to take action. Reporting by Jennifer Rigby and Virginia Furness; Editing by David Evans and Kate Mayberry, Reuters
CBC
02-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Raise prices on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50%, WHO suggests
The World Health Organization is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50 per cent over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems. The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and some cancers, as well as raising money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising. "Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have," said Jeremy Farrar, WHO assistant-director general of health promotion and disease prevention and control. "It's time to act." The WHO launched the push, which it is called " 3 by 35" at the UN Finance for Development conference in Seville, Spain. WHO said that its tax initiative could raise $1 trillion US by 2035 based on evidence from health taxes in countries such as Colombia and South Africa. The WHO has backed tobacco taxes and price rises for decades, and has called for taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks in recent years. But this is the first time it has suggested a target price rise for all three products. People in the U.K. under 15 might never be able to buy cigarettes 1 year ago Duration 2:05 WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the conference that the taxes could help governments "adjust to the new reality" and bolster their own health systems with the money raised. Many low and middle-income countries are coping with cuts to aid spending led by the United States, which is not attending the Seville conference. The U.S. is also in the process of withdrawing from the WHO. Raise prices from $4 to $10? As an example, the initiative would mean a government in a middle-income country raising taxes on the product to push the price up from $4 today to $10 by 2035, taking into account inflation, said WHO health economist Guillermo Sandoval. Nearly 140 countries had already raised tobacco taxes and therefore prices by over 50 per cent on average between 2012 and 2022, the WHO added. Sandoval said the WHO was also considering broader taxation recommendations, including on ultra-processed food, after the agency finalizes its definition of that type of food in the coming months. But he added that the agency expected pushback from the industries involved. The initiative is also backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and involves support for countries who want to take action.
News24
02-07-2025
- Health
- News24
WHO calls for increase in health taxes to save lives
The World Health Organisation is urging countries to raise prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50%. A 50% price hike on these products could prevent 50 million premature deaths over the next 50 years. Increasing taxation on these harmful products could generate an additional $1 trillion in public revenue over the next 10 years. The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday urged countries to massively increase the price of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks to raise public revenue and cut chronic disease. The global body said prices should be raised by at least 50% by 2035 because increased consumption was fuelling an epidemic of non-communicable diseases or NCDs, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. It pointed to a recent report that suggested that a one-time 50% price hike on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks could prevent 50 million premature deaths over the next 50 years. 'Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have,' said the WHO's assistant director-general of health promotion and disease prevention and control, Jeremy Farrar. 'They cut the consumption of harmful products and create revenue governments can reinvest in health care, education and social protection. It's time to act.' READ | If all cigarettes were taxed, South Africa wouldn't need a VAT increase The WHO's '3 by 35' initiative comes at a time when health systems are under huge pressure from increasing numbers of NCDs, shrinking development aid and ballooning public debt. The introduction of health taxes has seen reduced consumption and increased revenue, a statement said, calling for a review of some countries' continued tax incentives for 'unhealthy industries' such as tobacco. NCDs account for more than 75% of all deaths across the world, according to the WHO. Tobacco on its own causes more than seven million deaths every year. Increasing taxation would generate an extra $1 trillion in public revenue in the next 10 years, it added. 'Between 2012 and 2022, nearly 140 countries raised tobacco taxes, which resulted in an increase of real prices by over 50% on average, showing that large-scale change is possible,' the WHO said.
