Cheaper drinks will see a rise in noncommunicable diseases and injuries!

Sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages had become cheaper in many countries due to consistently low tax rates, contributing to rising levels of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers and injuries, particularly among children and young adults, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In two global reports released in January 2026, WHO warned that weak and poorly designed tax systems were allowing health-harming products to remain affordable, while health systems faced growing pressure from preventable noncommunicable diseases and injuries. WHO emphasised that health taxes were among the most effective tools for reducing harmful consumption while also generating revenue for essential health services.

The reports showed that although many countries taxed sugary drinks and alcohol, the taxes were often too low, narrowly applied or failed to keep pace with inflation and income growth. As a result, alcohol and sugary drinks had become more affordable over time. Many high-sugar products, such as fruit juices and sweetened milk drinks, remained untaxed, and wine was still not taxed in a number of countries despite known health risks.

WHO also noted that the global profits generated by these products far exceeded the share captured by governments through health taxes, leaving societies to bear the long-term health and economic costs. Public support for higher taxes was already evident, yet implementation lagged behind.

The organisation called on governments to raise and redesign taxes under its “3 by 35” initiative, aiming to make tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks less affordable by 2035 to better protect public health.

Source: World Health Organisation