Try GOLD - Free
Raise prices of alcohol, sugary drinks by 50% over 10 yrs: WHO
Mint New Delhi
|July 04, 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50% over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems.
The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and some cancers, as well as raising money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising.
"Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have," said Jeremy Farrar, WHO assistant-director general of health promotion and disease prevention and control. "It's time to act."
WHO said that its tax initiative could raise $1 trillion by 2035 based on evidence from health taxes in countries such as Colombia and South Africa.
This story is from the July 04, 2025 edition of Mint New Delhi.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Mint New Delhi
Mint New Delhi
Diwali is past, but shopping season is roaring ahead
India's consumption engine appears to be humming well past the Diwali rush, with digital payments showing none of the usual post-festival fatigue.
3 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
AI bond flood adds to market pressure
Wall Street is straining to absorb a flood of new bonds from tech companies funding their artificial intelligence investments, adding to the recent pressure in markets.
4 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
TCS, Wipro US patent suits worsen IT's woes
Two of the country’s largest information technology (IT) services companies—Tata Consultancy Services Ltd and Wipro Ltd—faced fresh patent violations in the last 45 days, signalling challenges to their expansion of service offerings.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
Auto parts firms spot hybrid gold
Auto component makers are licking their lips at the ascent of hybrids, spying a new growth engine at a time when electric vehicle (EV) sales have not measured up.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
Micro biz has a harder time securing loan to start up
Bank lending to first-time micro-entrepreneurs has plummeted, signalling tighter credit conditions for small businesses already struggling with cash flow pressures and trade turmoil. In the first six months of the fiscal year, a key central scheme to support such lending managed to sanction just about 12% of what was sanctioned in the entire previous fiscal year, official data showed.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
Why was a fresh approach to QCOs needed?
The government is now withdrawing the quality control orders (QCOS) issued earlier across sectors. Mint examines the original intent, the reasons for the policy reversal, and the expected national benefits from this move.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
Inverted duty fix is next on GST agenda
GST Council to expand work on fixing anomaly at next meet
2 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
Page Industries scouts for missing piece of comeback puzzle
Page Industries Ltd has been struggling with muted growth.Its thrust on operational efficiencies, calibrated distribution expansion and new product launches is yet to reignite the dwindling investor faith.
1 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
REAL ESTATE PLAY: THE END OF INDIA’S BIGGEST TAX HACK
For years, the easiest dinner-table flex in India was a line that began with “You know what I bought that flat for?” and ended with a smug smile. Real estate wasn’t just an investment, it was a moral victory. Hold long enough and inflation would ensure you paid no to minimal tax. All thanks to indexation, a process that adjusts the cost of acquisition for inflation until the year of sale, effectively reducing your capital gains and the tax on them.
3 mins
November 25, 2025
Mint New Delhi
Independent films fight for screen space despite critical acclaim
Critically acclaimed Indian filmsthat sparkle onthe international festival circuit are finding it hard to be screened in the country even though theatresare struggling with low supply of new commercial films.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size

