The World Health Organization is pressuring governments to increase, by taxation, prices of sugary beverages, alcohol and tobacco by 50% over the next 10 years. But the effectiveness of this type of measures is challenged – mainly by the most affected sectors of the economy.
According to the United Nations Health Agency, this measure would help to reduce the consumption of these products, which contribute to Diseases like diabetes and some types of cancer.
Taxation has traditionally been the most commonly used way to combat chronic public health problems, while generating revenues at a time when development aid is decreasing and public debt to increase.
“Os taxes on harmful products Health are one of the most efficient tools we have. “It’s time to act“ Jeremy FarrarDeputy Director General of WHO for the promotion of health, prevention and control of diseases, quoted by the agency.
The initiative, designated by “3 for 35”, Was launched at the United Nations Conference on Development Financing in Seville,
According to WHO, their taxation proposal of these products could generate at the next 10 years a tax revenue of up to 850 billion eurosbased on evidence collected in countries such as Colombia and South Africa.
WHO has been defending for decades the increase in tobacco taxesand more recently has appealed to the taxation of alcohol and sugary beverages. However, it is the first time that the organization proposes an increase in target prices for The three products simultaneously.
The WHO Director General, Tedros adhanom ghebreyesussaid during the conference that taxes could help governments “adjust to the new reality” and reinforce your health systems with the recipes obtained.
Many low and medium income countries are dealing with cuts in international aid, largely caused by recent changes in political orientation of the United States, which are in the process of leaving the WHO And they are not present at the Seville Conference.
What is the effectiveness?
The initiative would mean that a government in an average income would have to increase taxes so that the price of a particular product that currently cost 4 euros undergo 10 euros by 2035taking into account inflation, explained the WHO health economist, Guillermo Sandoval.
According to WHO, between 2012 and 2022, almost 140 countries had already increased the taxes on tobacco.
Sandoval added that WHO is also considering tax recommendations broader on ultra -processed foods. However, he acknowledged that the agency expects resistance from the industries involved.
“It is deeply worrying that the World Health Organization continues to continue ignore more than a decade of clear evidence demonstrating that the taxation of sugary drinks never reduced obesity in any country”Said Kate Loatman, executive director of the International Council of Beverage Associations.
“WHO’s suggestion that tax increases will prevent alcohol damage it’s misleadingSaid Amanda Berger, vice president of the Distilled Spiritual Beverages Council, which adds that such a measure will not prevent alcohol abuse.
Also the secretary general of the International Alliance of Food and Beverage, Rocco Renaldialthough it welcomes WHO’s effort to reinforce health systems, warns against the risks of the inclusion of sugary drinks “in the same group as inherently harmful goods, such as tobacco“.
The WHO fiscal initiative has the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and includes technical support to countries that want to advance their implementation.
