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Experts: Increase taxes on alcohol and unhealthy foods to reduce deaths from diseases

2026-04-30 08:57:00, Shëndeti CNA

Experts: Increase taxes on alcohol and unhealthy foods to reduce deaths from

A new report from the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the scientific journal The Lancet calls for strong measures in Europe, including significantly increasing taxes on alcohol and unhealthy foods.

According to experts, these measures are necessary to address the growing and unsustainable burden of liver diseases, which cause an estimated 284,000 deaths each year on the continent.

The report emphasizes that taxes should be increased to a level that reflects the real costs that these products cause to society, including spending on the health system, criminal justice, and social services.

Experts call on the European Union and the World Health Organization to encourage national governments to implement these recommendations, building on the success of anti-tobacco policies over recent decades.

According to data, about 215,000 people a year die from liver cirrhosis and 69,400 from liver cancer in Europe, accounting for about 3% of all deaths in the region.

The report identifies four main risk factors: alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, obesity and viral hepatitis. Eliminating these factors could halve cases of liver disease and also reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

In addition to taxes, experts recommend placing health warnings on alcoholic products and banning advertising aimed at young people under 18.

However, alcohol industry representatives have opposed this approach, arguing that there should be more focus on moderate consumption and targeted interventions for those who abuse alcohol, rather than general tax increases./ CNA





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