#7 | WHO Health Tax Strategy: Sugary Drinks, Alcohol, and the Global Fight Against Noncommunicable Diseases

In this episode of the GMJ Podcast — the official podcast of the Georgian Medical Journal, we examine the World Health Organization’s global recommendations on health taxation targeting sugary drinks and alcohol and their role in preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).The episode reviews the WHO analysis titled “Cheaper drinks will see a rise in noncommunicable diseases and injuries,” which highlights how declining real prices of sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol contribute to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and alcohol-related injuries worldwide.The discussion explains the WHO global policy initiative “3 by 35,” which proposes stronger taxation on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages by 2035 as a major public health strategy to reduce preventable deaths and generate sustainable revenue for national health systems.Key topics discussed in this episode include:• Why sugary drinks and alcohol contribute to the global NCD epidemic• How health taxes influence consumption and public health outcomes• The economic and epidemiological evidence supporting excise taxation• Policy implications for governments and public health institutions• The potential role of taxation in financing stronger health systemsThis analytical review is designed for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and public health professionals interested in global health policy, prevention of noncommunicable diseases, and evidence-based fiscal interventions.Original WHO source discussed in this episode:https://www.who.int/news/item/13-01-2026-cheaper-drinks-will-see-a-rise-in-noncommunicable-diseases-and-injuriesThe GMJ Podcast accompanies peer-reviewed publications and policy analyses discussed in the Georgian Medical Journal, supporting academic dissemination and structured discussion of current global health challenges.#გიორგიფხაკაძე #drpkhakadze #sheniekimi