Posted on 12/06/2023 7:44:52 AM PST by Dr. Marten
Countries need to increase their taxes on alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, saying too few states were using tax to incentivize healthier behaviors.
After studying taxation rates, the WHO said the average global tax rate on such "unhealthy products" was low, and hiking taxes could result in healthier populations.
"WHO recommends that excise tax should apply to all sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and alcoholic beverages," the UN health agency said in a statement.
Excise taxes target particular goods and services.
The WHO said 2.6 million people a year die from drinking alcohol, while more than eight million die from having an unhealthy diet.
"Implementing tax on alcohol and SSBs will reduce these deaths," it said.
It would not only help cut down use of these products but also give companies an incentive to make healthier products, it added.
The WHO said that although 108 countries do impose some taxation on SSBs, globally, excise taxes on average represent just 6.6 percent of the price of a soda.
Half of those countries also tax water, the WHO noted—something not recommended by the UN agency.
"Taxing unhealthy products creates healthier populations. It has a positive ripple effect across society—less disease and debilitation and revenue for governments to provide public services," said Rudiger Krech, the WHO's health promotion director.
"In the case of alcohol, taxes also help prevent violence and road traffic injuries."
The Geneva-based WHO on Tuesday released a manual on alcohol tax policy and administration for its 194 member states.
It said minimum pricing, combined with taxation, could curb consumption of cheap booze and reduce drink-related hospitalizations, deaths, traffic violations and crimes.
"A significant body of research has demonstrated that people who engage in heavy episodic drinking tend to drink the cheapest available alcoholic beverages," it said.
Some 148 countries apply national excise taxes on alcoholic drinks.
"However, wine is exempted from excise taxes in at least 22 countries, most of which are in the European region," the WHO said.
Globally, on average, the excise tax in the price of the most sold brand of beer is 17.2 percent, while for the most sold brand of the most sold type of spirits, it is 26.5 percent, the organization claimed.
"A pressing concern is that alcoholic beverages have, over time, consistently become more affordable," said WHO assistant director-general Ailan Li.
"But increasing affordability can be curbed using well-designed alcohol tax and pricing policies."
The manual said the drinks industry often argues that alcohol taxes hit the poorest hardest—but said this ignores the "disproportionate harm per litre for alcohol consumers in lower socioeconomic groups".
Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax,
Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax,
Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax
Had enough yet, world?
They did a sh!t job in their lane. Millions died all over the world. So they figure it’s time for them to get into other peoples’ lane.
Global Warming Tax
Fast Food Tax
Soda Tax
Carbon Emissions Tax
Rising Oceans Tax
Food Tax
Johnny was down at the moonshine still
In the bottom of the holler by the side of the hill
He woke up ‘bout the break of day
When he thought he heard his granpa say
Oh run, Johnny run the Federals ‘ll get you
Oh run, Johnny run you better get away
WHO has a critical job to do—enriching Big Pharma.
It is a challenging task but somebody has to do it.
;-)
Is The WHO Muslim ?
Looks like the WHO headquarters leadership team drink a lot of sugary drinks ,LOL
I guess that treaty-not-a-treaty they are trying to pull will enable them to declare an 'emergency' and dictate taxation policy.
The W H O needs to D I E
Just tax poor fat and stupid people and be done with it
Memo to WHO...MYOB.
The WHO is nothing more than a big Stat machine.
I am 85, at least reasonably healthy & pay no particular attention to my diet except for no alcohol or tobacco. I also lived through a severe bout with Covid19. How long do I expect to live? Who can say? The Lord will call me home when the time comes. In the meantime, I still drive & do other things with reasonable care in accordance with my age. Do I really need to get started on a health routine?
I’m seeing a patern:
__________ tax
Yep, there it is!
Seems like you should keep doing what you are already doing. It seems to bo working for you!
Snacks are cereal and WHOLE milk, dunking Graham Crackers..and every night...a salad.
But hen there are days...that I eat a whole Pumpkin Pie...lol
:)
Exactly!!
They look at EVERYTHING and want to tax it.
And the stupid buy into it.
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