Health - WHO calls for higher taxes on alcohol
According to the World Health Organization(WHO), more than ten million people die every year due to alcohol consumption or an unhealthy diet. Governments could reduce these deaths with taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks, the WHO reported in Geneva. It published a handbook with practical tips on how to introduce higher alcohol taxes. It criticizes European countries for their approach to wine.
In the case of beer, the share of excise duty on the best-selling brand is 17.2 percent. For the best-selling spirit, it is 26.5 percent. The WHO does not give names. It considers this to be too little. "Taxes that increase the price of alcohol by 50 percent help prevent 21 million deaths over 50 years, according to a 2017 study," reported the WHO. In addition, 17 trillion dollars (15.7 trillion euros) in additional revenue would be generated over the same period. According to the WHO, there are excise duties on alcohol in 148 countries. However, wine is excluded from this in at least 22 countries, mainly in Europe.
According to the WHO, higher taxes lead to lower consumption. This prevents deaths and injuries in road traffic and reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Higher taxes are also an incentive for manufacturers to make healthier products. In a recent WHO-sponsored survey of 7,000 participants in Colombia, India, Jordan, Tanzania and the USA, more than 60 percent were in favor of higher taxes on alcohol to prevent deaths.
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Source: www.stern.de
