The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries to increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to protect public health

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said such measures would strengthen domestic financing for essential services amid global aid cuts. 

He explained that sudden reductions in international development assistance had disrupted health systems in many low- and middle-income countries, increasing pressure on governments to find sustainable funding sources. 

At a press conference on Tuesday, held during the launch of the World Health Organisation’s two new global reports on taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages, Dr Ghebreyesus said the WHO was supporting countries to sustain health services and mobilise domestic resources to reduce aid dependency. 

“One of the most effective tools available to governments is health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks; such taxes have consistently been shown to reduce consumption of harmful products, prevent disease, and ease the burden on overstretched health systems,” he said. 

Dr Ghebreyesus said that health taxes generate reliable revenue that governments could invest in health, education, and social protection. 

In 2024, the WHO launched its “3 by 35 Initiative,” aimed at supporting countries to increase the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks through health taxes by 2035. 

Dr Ghebreyesus stressed that health taxes were not a “set it and forget it” solution, noting that they must be carefully designed and regularly adjusted to remain effective. 

The two new global reports show that in most countries, taxes on alcoholic and sugary drinks remain too low, poorly structured, infrequently updated, and rarely aligned with public health objectives. 

They indicate that alcoholic beverages and sugary drinks have become more affordable over time, even as noncommunicable diseases, injuries, and related healthcare costs continue to rise. 

The taxation approach aligns with Ghana’s efforts to boost revenue for health financing amid rising noncommunicable diseases. 

In 2023, Ghana implemented a 20 percent tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, including sodas, energy drinks, and sweetened juices, through the Excise Duty Amendment Act.  

The measure sought to curb consumption, promote health, and fund health initiatives. 

The WHO cited evidence from several countries demonstrating the impact of well-designed health taxes.  

In the Philippines, a major tobacco and alcohol tax reform in 2013 increased revenues more than fivefold, enabling the expansion of national health insurance coverage to over 15 million poor families. 

In Lithuania, a sharp increase in alcohol taxes in 2017 was followed by an almost five per cent reduction in all-cause mortality the following year. 

In the United Kingdom, a sugary drinks tax introduced in 2018 reduced sugar consumption, generated £338 million in revenue in 2024 alone, and was linked to lower obesity rates among girls aged 10 and 11, particularly in deprived communities. 

WHO said that in 2024, countries including Malaysia, Mauritius, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam introduced or increased taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks. 

It said that in 2025, India introduced a new excise duty on tobacco, while Saudi Arabia implemented a tiered excise tax on sugary drinks, with higher rates for products containing more sugar. 

WHO said it looks forward to supporting more countries, including those in Africa, in designing and implementing effective health taxes as part of broader efforts to protect public health and build resilient, self-financed health systems.