GENEVA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are becoming increasingly affordable due to consistently low tax rates in most countries, fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and injuries, especially among children and young adults, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday.
The WHO released two new global reports, calling on governments to substantially increase taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and alcoholic drinks. The reports warn that weak tax systems keep harmful products affordable while health systems face growing financial pressure from preventable noncommunicable diseases and injuries.
