Raise alcohol tax to prevent cancer - WHO
Wednesday September 22nd 2021
Alcohol-related cancer incidence and mortality could be cut significantly by increased taxation, World Health Organization experts say.
The study, 'Modelling the impact of increased alcohol taxation on alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region', was published recently in The Lancet Regional Health Europe.
Researchers led by Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges estimate that 10,700 new cancer cases and 4,850 alcohol-related cancer deaths each year could be avoided by doubling the current excise duties on alcohol.
Three scenarios were modelled - raising excise duties by 20%, 50%, or 100%. This indicated that the UK, Russian Federation and Germany would benefit most from these changes.
For example, doubling tax in the UK could avoid more than 1,800 new cases and 680 deaths (11% of each).
Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges of the WHO says: “In 2020, more than 4.8 million people in the WHO European Region developed cancer. The rate of cancer in the region is the highest in the world, and high levels of alcohol consumption contribute to this.
"Alcohol is linked to seven different types of cancer. The good news is that in Europe up to 40% of cancers could be prevented, and we have many opportunities to defeat cancer as a life-threatening disease in the near future.
“The new WHO modelling study shows that taxation can effectively reduce the burden of alcohol-related cancers. Doubling current alcohol excises in the WHO European Region can help us avoid around 6% of new cancer cases and deaths linked to alcohol consumption.”
Kilian, C. et al. Modelling the impact of increased alcohol taxation on alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region. The Lancet Regional Health 14 September 2021 doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100225
Tags: Cancer | Drug & Alcohol Abuse | Europe
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