World Health Organisation urges higher taxes on alcohol

On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation asked governments to raise taxes on alcoholic beverages and apply them to goods that are now exempt, such wine in several European nations. The WHO stated that higher taxes should be levied on sugary drinks as well, noting that 8 million people die from poor diets and 2.6 million die from alcohol consumption annually. The WHO’s director of health promotion, Rudiger Krech, asserted that increased taxes on certain goods lead to healthier populations. “In the case of alcohol, it also helps prevent violence and traffic injuries. It has a positive ripple effect across society - less disease and debilitation and revenue for governments to provide public services,” Krech said. The World Health Organisation (WHO), which has made great strides in drawing attention to the mortality and disease caused by cigarettes, is now focusing more of its attention on the health effects of products like alcohol and sugary food. Tuesday saw the introduction by the WHO of a “alcohol tax manual” in addition to other documents that addressed tobacco and beverages sweetened with sugar. It calls on governments to enact higher rates and tax all forms of alcohol, claiming that the majority of alcohol taxes are “low and not optimally designed” and that wine is not taxed at all in 22 nations, primarily in Europe. According to the WHO, alcohol consumption is linked to over 200 illnesses and injuries, including some malignancies, liver cirrhosis, and cardiovascular disorders. Associations representing the alcohol industry claim that higher levies lead to reduced sales and lower tax revenues, while threatening some businesses’ survival. (With agency inputs)