Raise prices on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50%, WHO suggests – CBC
The World Health Organization says higher taxes could cut consumption, support health-care spending
Jul 02, 2025
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.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/sugar-tax-who-1.7575589
