Cheaper sugary drinks threaten global health, especially among young people: WHO

14/01/2026

Cheaper sugary drinks threaten global health, especially among young people: WHO

Low prices on sugary beverages and alcohol are fueling health problems, particularly in children and young adults, the WHO says.

GENEVA, Jan 14: The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday that low prices on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and injuries, particularly among children and young adults, while putting growing pressure on health systems worldwide.

In two new global reports, the WHO called on governments to significantly strengthen taxes on these products, saying weak tax systems keep harmful items cheap and allow the social and economic costs of preventable noncommunicable diseases and injuries to rise.

“Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “By increasing taxes on products like tobacco, sugary drinks, and alcohol, governments can reduce harmful consumption and unlock funds for vital health services.”

The reports highlighted that the combined global market for sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages generates billions of dollars in profit, yet governments capture only a small share through health-motivated taxes, leaving societies to bear long-term health and economic costs.

At least 116 countries tax sugary drinks, mainly sodas, but many other high-sugar products, including 100% fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas, escape taxation. While 97% of countries tax energy drinks, this figure has not changed since 2023.

WHO said that at least 167 countries levy taxes on alcoholic beverages, while 12 ban alcohol entirely. Despite this, prices have become more affordable or stayed the same in most countries since 2022, as taxes fail to keep pace with inflation and income growth. Wine remains untaxed in at least 25 countries, mostly in Europe, despite known health risks.

“More affordable alcohol drives violence, injuries, and disease,” said Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention. “While industry profits, the public often carries the health consequences and society bears the economic costs.”

WHO’s findings show that across regions:

Tax shares on alcohol remain low, with global excise share medians of 14% for beer and 22.5% for spirits;
Sugary drink taxes are weak and poorly targeted, with a median tax of only 2% of a common soda’s price and often applying to a limited range of beverages;
Few countries adjust taxes for inflation, allowing health-harming products to become steadily more affordable.

These trends persist despite a 2022 Gallup Poll showing strong public support for higher taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol.

WHO urged countries to raise and redesign taxes as part of its 3 by 35 initiative, aiming to increase the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by 2035, making them less affordable and helping protect public health.