World Health Organisation says alcohol is now ‘too affordable’
Alcoholic drinks are becoming ‘too affordable’, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said, as it calls on governments worldwide to overhaul tax structures.
Health body links low taxes to rising disease burden
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging governments to raise and redesign alcohol taxes, claiming alcoholic drinks have become “too affordable” despite rising health burdens.
In two global reports released yesterday (13 January), the UN agency stated that sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are getting cheaper due to consistently low tax rates in most countries. WHO argues this is fuelling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers and injuries, particularly among children and young adults.
The organisation said governments should “significantly strengthen taxes” on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages. It warned that weak tax systems are keeping harmful products cheap while health systems face mounting financial pressure from preventable noncommunicable diseases and injuries.
Calls for ‘one of the strongest tools’ in prevention
“Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general. “By increasing taxes on products like tobacco, sugary drinks, and alcohol, governments can reduce harmful consumption and unlock funds for vital health services.”
The Global report on the use of alcohol taxes 2025 shows that at least 167 countries levy taxes on alcoholic beverages, while 12 ban alcohol entirely.
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Spirits are taxed by all countries that apply excise duties to alcoholic beverages. The excise tax share in the retail price of the most-sold type of spirits falls around 28%, compared with approximately 21% for beer.
Wine is still exempted in at least 25 countries in some regions, mostly in Europe, despite clear health risks.
Spirits becoming more affordable
Separate WHO analyses linked to the tax report indicate that since 2022, spirits have become more affordable in a majority of countries (67). This suggests tax changes are not keeping pace with income growth and inflation. In contrast, spirits became less affordable in approximately 25 markets, with no change in about 21 countries.
WHO also found that tax shares on alcohol remain low, with global excise share medians of 14% for beer and 22.5% for spirits.
Dr Etienne Krug, director of WHO’s department of health determinants, promotion and prevention, said that “more affordable alcohol drives violence, injuries and disease. While industry profits, the public often carries the health consequences and society the economic costs.”
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