Taxes will save lives: WHO calls for halving prices on alcohol and tobacco

The World Health Organization is calling on all countries around the world to raise prices on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035.

This is stated in the WHO initiative “3 by 35”.

It is noted that these three products are the main factors contributing to the development of non-communicable diseases, in particular heart disease, cancer and diabetes, which are the cause of more than 75% of all deaths in the world.

“Tobacco alone causes more than 7 million deaths annually. Consumption of alcohol and sugary drinks further exacerbates the global burden of NCDs, undermining health, economic productivity and sustainable development,” the WHO says.

A one-time 50% increase in the prices of these three food categories could prevent 50 million premature deaths over the next 50 years.

It will also help generate up to $3.7 trillion in new revenue globally over five years.

The WHO initiated the “3 to 35” campaign, calling for raising the real prices of any or all three categories of products by at least 50% by 2035 through tax increases.

“The initiative has an “ambitious but achievable goal” of raising $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Between 2012 and 2022, nearly 140 countries increased tobacco taxes, leading to an average increase in real prices of more than 50%, suggesting that large-scale change is possible,” the WHO said.

It was previously reported that the Ukrainian Government promised the International Monetary Fund to increase taxes and excise duties on sugary drinks in 2025 .

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