CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES

2018 United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs

PRIORITY 4.

Adopt smart fiscal policies that promote health

RATIONALE

Real increases in excise taxes and prices for tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are cost-effective fiscal policies recommended in the WHO Best Buys.

Increased tobacco taxation is also a legally binding commitment in the WHO FCTC (Article 6), and included as a recommendation in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for sustainable development financing. These measures are good for health and good for government revenues. They support both NCD prevention and domestic resource mobilisation, representing a win-win for public health and health financing. Taxation of unhealthy commodities is supported by clear evidence on the public health and economic gains and is getting political traction, with many governments implementing or having announced implementation of or increases of taxes on tobacco, alcohol and SSBs.

ILLUSTRATIVE ADVOCACY ASKS

Implement globally recommended fiscal policies including price and tax measures
on tobacco and other unhealthy commodities as an effective and important means to reduce consumption and healthcare costs, specifically:

  • Raise excise taxes on tobacco products, so as to at least double the retail price, and commit to ongoing increases after that to keep pace with rising prices and incomes.
  • Raise excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, so as to at least double the retail price or implement minimum unit pricing, and commit to ongoing increases after that to keep pace with rising prices and incomes.
  • Implement SSB taxes to raise the retail price by 20% or more, and commit to ongoing increases after that to keep pace with rising prices and incomes.

Consider dedicating revenue from taxation of unhealthy commodities to NCD programmes covering awareness raising, health promotion and disease prevention, and Universal Health Coverage.

OUR CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES

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RELATED RESOURCES

Taxes on unhealthy products can benefit poorest most – Lancet commission

Taxes on unhealthy products have the potential to produce major health gains among the poorest in society, who are disproportionately affected by NCDs, according to an analysis released by a taskforce of The Lancet today.

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