WHO Launches Plan to Cut Disease with Tax on Soda, Alcohol

Governments worldwide have a powerful new tool to protect their citizens from preventable diseases, and it starts with making unhealthy products cost more.

The World Health Organization launched its "3 by 35" initiative this week, calling on countries to significantly increase taxes on sugary drinks, alcohol, and tobacco by 2035. The goal is simple: make these harmful products less affordable and save lives while generating revenue for healthcare systems.

Currently, at least 116 countries tax sugar-sweetened beverages, but many high-sugar products like sweetened milk drinks and ready-to-drink coffees remain untaxed. Even where taxes exist, they're often too low to make a difference, with the median tax accounting for just 2% of a soda's price.

Alcohol taxation faces similar challenges. While 167 countries tax alcoholic beverages, drinks have actually become more affordable in most places since 2022 because taxes haven't kept pace with inflation and income growth. Median excise rates sit at just 14% for beer and 22.5% for spirits.

The health stakes are high. Regular consumption of sugary drinks contributes to obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and dental problems, particularly among young people. Affordable alcohol drives violence, injuries, and disease, with communities bearing the costs while industries profit.

The Ripple Effect

Some countries are already proving this approach works. The United Kingdom introduced a sugar levy in 2018 that led to reduced sugar consumption and generated £338 million in additional revenue in 2024 alone. Most importantly, obesity rates dropped among girls aged 10 and 11, especially in lower-income communities.

In Nigeria, where non-communicable diseases are rising rapidly, health advocates are pushing to raise the current N10-per-litre tax on sugary drinks to at least N130 per litre. Civil society groups argue that stronger fiscal measures could reduce preventable diseases while funding healthcare and prevention programs.

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus calls health taxes "one of the strongest tools for promoting health and preventing disease." By increasing taxes on harmful products, governments can reduce consumption while unlocking funds for vital health services, education, and social protection.

The initiative faces challenges, as few governments currently adjust taxes for inflation, allowing harmful products to become steadily more affordable over time. However, WHO emphasizes that even modest increases can ease pressure on overwhelmed health systems while protecting future generations.

This global movement shows that protecting public health and strengthening economies can go hand in hand.