The Colombian government has unveiled a landmark tax reform that raises alcohol taxes as part of efforts to fund the 2026 budget and improve public health. The reform comes amid urgent health concerns: alcohol causes nearly 10,000 deaths annually in Colombia, is the top risk factor for death among 15- to 49-year-olds, and contributes to violence, self-harm, and traffic crashes. Civil society and community voices say this reform marks a turning point, ensuring the alcohol industry pays its fai...| Movendi International
Belgium is opposing a proposed EU regulation that would allow wines with up to 6% alcohol by volume to be labeled as “low-alcohol,” arguing that the term is misleading and could undermine public health. Belgian health authorities insist that such labeling breaks with established food law practices, risks giving consumers a false sense of safety, and should be replaced with the more accurate term “reduced alcohol content.” The final decision now rests with the European Parliament, wher...| Movendi International
A major U.S. government study confirming the link between alcohol and cancer has been buried by the Trump administration, despite being intended to inform the 2025 Dietary Guidelines. The Alcohol Intake and Health Study found that even low levels of alcohol use increase the risk of death and cancer, especially for women - but it was sidelined in favor of a scientifically inferior, alcohol industry-favored report from the National Academies. This suppression reflects the alcohol industry’s g...| Movendi International
The New Zealand government has pushed through alcohol law changes that strip away community protections, silence national health advocates, and expand unfair and harmful privileges for the alcohol industry. These changes worsen licensing oversight, increase alcohol availability, and normalize harmful products in everyday life, all while ignoring the country’s $9 billion alcohol harm burden. By prioritizing Big Alcohol’s interests over people’s health and rights, the government is taking...| Movendi International
A new report from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health shows youth alcohol use is rising, leading to more accidents, injuries, and violence. Av-og-til Secretary General Ragnhild Kaski calls it a wake-up call, warning that parents’ growing acceptance of alcohol at parties fuels the problem. The report also highlights a strong link between alcohol and illegal drugs use. Policymakers, parents, schools, and others all share responsibility for addressing this trend. Making alcohol more avail...| Movendi International
Bhutan is stepping up its efforts to prevent and reduce non-communicable diseases, which cause 72% of deaths in the country. Starting next year, new taxes on harmful products and industries will increase prices of alcohol and tobacco. Bhutan complements these fiscal measures with better regulations, lowered blood alcohol concentration levels to prevent alcohol impaired driving, awareness campaigns, and expanded treatment for people with alcohol and other substance use disorders. Bhutan's alco...| Movendi International
A case study of Kenya’s new alcohol policy reveals overwhelming public support, strong community advocacy, and an aggressive backlash driven by industry-linked misinformation. Kenya’s newly adopted National Alcohol Policy has sparked a heated public debate, revealing both widespread community support and a wave of misleading industry-driven attacks. While media outlets and political voices linked to the alcohol industry claim there is a nationwide backlash, closer analysis shows the oppos...| Movendi International
Alcohol policy is one of the most powerful tools African countries can use to unlock health and development progress. Across the continent, people are calling for action and governments are beginning to respond, but the alcohol industry’s harmful practices still stand in the way. At WHO AFRO RCM75, Movendi International is making the case for ambitious alcohol policy action as a catalyst for healthier people, stronger communities, and fairer societies. The post Movendi at WHO AFRO RCM75: Pu...| Movendi International
Newly released government papers expose how Big Alcohol lobbyists in New Zealand worked to block effective alcohol policies. The Ministry of Health shared draft strategies with alcohol industry lobby groups, while withholding them from the public, and paused reforms after lobbying pressure. The documents reveal industry opposition to proven WHO measures such as higher taxes, lowered availability, and ending alcohol sponsorship in sport. They also show how the industry dismissed credible estim...| Movendi International
Alcohol industry language, no alcohol policy action: UN Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health risks becoming meaningless. Alcohol industry interference in the drafting of the political declaration of the fourth high-level meeting on NCDs and mental health has quietly erased proven, cost-effective alcohol policy measures - despite alcohol being the leading risk factor for death and disease among young people worldwide. While tobacco is treated with specificity and urgency, alcohol po...| Movendi International
VAST Ghana is stepping up for alcohol taxation. Following successful advocacy work for Ghana to raise alcohol taxes in 2023, VAST is now stepping up again to defend the public health achievement. The Excise Duty Act, with tax rates up to 47.5%, is credited with curbing alcohol harm, yet it now faces pushback from the alcohol industry. VAST Ghana urges lawmakers to resist pressure and instead strengthen tax policy by adopting a hybrid system and indexing for inflation.| Movendi International
New research shows that alcohol deaths in the U.S. have doubled since 1999, with sharp increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data signals an escalating public health crisis requiring urgent policy action. Disparities worsened: alcohol death rates surged among women, youth, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, Black Americans saw a 21% annual increase in mortality after 2019. Experts call for urgent alcohol policy action, including improved screening and treatment access, alcoh...| Movendi International
A brand new landmark study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) confirms that Lithuania’s 2017 alcohol excise tax increase delivered significant health improvements as well as economic benefits. For every €1 invested in raising the alcohol excise tax, the country gained €420 in economic benefits, while alcohol-related deaths dropped by 22% and tax revenues rose by 38%. With no rise in illegal alcohol use, the policy showcases how raising alcohol excise taxes can prevent ...| Movendi International