Filenews 14 January 2026
The lower the taxes and other charges imposed by states on alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, juices and other types of sugary drinks, the greater their consumption and the more health problems they cause to citizens, resulting in the loss of lives, the deterioration of the standard of living of a large part of the population and the financial burden on state health systems.
The above is generally the position - warning of the World Health Organization, as expressed yesterday through two reports that were made public. The WHO is also in favour of increasing taxation in relation to tobacco products, a sector in which the European Commission is expected to announce a serious increase in taxes and charges in 2026.
The World Health Organization considers the current tax rates for alcohol and sugary drinks to be low in most countries. He points out that taxation has not followed the upward trend of inflation in the last 3-4 years, with the result that, according to the reports, the alcohol, soft drinks and other sugary drinks industry has made billions in profits, without states increasing their share of these profits through increased taxation.
Through the two reports published yesterday, the World Health Organization is calling on governments to significantly increase taxes on alcoholic and sugary drinks to protect their citizens from serious non-communicable diseases and injuries caused by alcohol-related accidents and traffic accidents, but also to reduce the pressure on state health systems for hospitalizations and treatments.
Effective Tools
"Health taxes are one of the most powerful tools we have to promote health and prevent disease," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO. "By increasing taxes on products such as tobacco, sugary drinks and alcohol, governments can reduce harmful consumption and free up funds for vital health services."
The two WHO reports show that at least 116 countries tax sugary drinks, many of which are soft drinks. However, many other high-sugar products, such as 100% fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks and ready-to-drink coffees and teas, escape taxation in many states. While 97% of countries tax energy drinks, this figure has not changed since the last global report in 2023.
A separate WHO report shows that at least 167 countries impose taxes on alcoholic beverages, while 12 ban alcohol entirely. But the price of alcohol has become more affordable or has remained unchanged in most countries since 2022, as taxes have not kept pace with inflation and income growth. Wine remains tax-free in at least 25 countries, mostly in Europe, despite clear health risks.
The WHO found that in many countries alcohol tax shares remain low, with the global average excise tax shares being 14% for beer and 22.5% for alcoholic beverages.
– As far as beer is concerned, in Cyprus there is a VAT of 19% and an excise tax of €3 per hectolitre per degree of alcohol for small breweries and €6 per hectolitre per degree of alcohol for larger breweries.
Alcoholic beverages such as whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, etc., in Cyprus are subject to an excise tax of €956.82 per hectolitre of pure alcohol and 19% VAT.
