“WHO Urges Higher Taxes on Sugary Drinks”

Sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are becoming cheaper in many countries because taxes on them are too low. This is causing serious health problems like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and injuries, especially among children and young adults, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, WHO released two new global reports highlighting this problem. The reports show that weak tax systems make unhealthy products affordable, while health systems struggle with the high costs of treating preventable diseases and injuries.

WHO is now urging governments to increase taxes significantly on sugary drinks and alcoholic drinks. The goal is to make these harmful products more expensive, reduce their consumption, and protect public health, especially among young people.