A commission of experts from the European Association for the Study of the Liver and The Lancet medical journal has called on European governments to significantly raise taxes on alcohol and unhealthy food to combat the continent's 284,000 annual deaths from liver disease. The report, published on Wednesday, argues that the revenue from these taxes should cover the substantial costs these products impose on healthcare systems, criminal justice systems, and social services.
Key Recommendations
The commission urges governments to ensure all alcoholic products carry health warnings and to prohibit online advertisements targeting individuals under 18 for alcoholic drinks and junk food. They emphasize the need for bold action to address what they describe as an "escalating and unsustainable burden of liver disease." The experts also call on the European Union and the World Health Organization to encourage national governments to implement these recommendations, drawing lessons from successful anti-smoking campaigns.
Economic Burden and Health Impact
According to the commission, governments should "align taxation of alcohol and unhealthy foods to the economic burden they impose, including costs incurred by healthcare systems, law enforcement, the justice system and social services." The report highlights that 215,000 people die annually from liver cirrhosis, closely linked to alcohol, and another 69,400 from liver cancer, together accounting for 780 deaths per day, or about 3% of all deaths in Europe.
The four main causes of liver-related death identified are alcohol, unhealthy diets, obesity, and viral hepatitis. The experts note that eliminating behavioral risk factors such as excessive drinking and poor diet could halve the prevalence of liver disease and reduce cases of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Potential Price Increases
If implemented, the proposed tax increases would significantly raise the cost of alcoholic beverages. The Institute of Alcohol Studies has previously suggested that alcohol duty rates should reflect the economic cost of alcohol harm to society. For example, duty on beer could rise by 68%, cider by 227%, spirits by 68%, and wine by 34%. Such increases could raise the price of a 15-pack of beer from £14.59 to £19.51, an 18-pack of cider from £13.99 to £22.54, and a bottle of wine from £8.75 to £9.82, aligning England with Scotland's minimum unit pricing introduced in 2018.
Reactions from Stakeholders
Pamela Healy, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, supported the call for higher taxation, stating, "We urgently need policies that reflect the true harm caused by our unhealthy food and alcohol environment. This is not about creating a nanny state; it is about creating a level playing field." However, Matt Lambert, chief executive of the Portman Group, which represents the alcohol industry, argued that the best approach is to promote moderate and responsible use and targeted interventions for heavy drinkers, rather than penalizing the majority. He cautioned against "a kneejerk demonisation of an entire industry" and noted that the industry has voluntarily adopted labelling with NHS low-risk drinking guidelines.
