WHO Urges Stronger Tobacco Taxes
GENEVA, Switzerland, July 7 (UPI) — The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report Tuesday saying that heavily taxing cigarettes is one the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use.
The WHO’s report on global tobacco use says that although more than half of the world’s countries have implemented tobacco-control policies, too few governments levy high enough taxes or taxes at all.
The organization says tobacco taxes are the least implemented form of smoking prevention because of the myth that higher taxes will create an illegal trade. WHO argues this has been disproved and that a crackdown on illicit trade should take place anyway in order to minimize corruption and maximize government revenue.
The WHO recommends cigarettes should be taxed at 75 percent of their value or more in order to stymie consumption. WHO noted tax revenue would assist government spending in other areas.
In Turkey, a 13 percent reduction in smoking among the population between 2009 and 2014 followed a 50 percent increase in tobacco taxes. Increased tobacco prices in China and France also led to lower tobacco-induced deaths, such as lung cancer.
The WHO’s recommendation has been heeded by 33 countries including Bangladesh, Croatia and New Zealand, which tax cigarettes at more than three-fourths of their value.
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