World Health Organization calls for higher taxes on high-sugar beverages

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, urged governments to increase taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, describing them as one of the key mechanisms for promoting public health and curbing the spread of chronic diseases.

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Ghebreyesus warned that the fragility of current tax systems allows harmful products to continue being marketed at low prices, at a time when health systems are facing growing pressure due to rising disease rates and funding shortages—factors that further intensify health and economic burdens on countries.

The UN health chief stressed that health taxes are among the most powerful tools available for prevention and health promotion. He noted that higher taxes on products such as high-sugar drinks and alcohol would help ease pressure on health systems, while also generating additional financial resources that could be redirected to fund essential health services.