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 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
The latest draft of the UN Political Declaration (Revision 3) brings back two references to alcohol policy best buys—barely avoiding complete meaninglessness. Yet the draft still falls short of previous global commitments to accelerate action, ignores WHO guidance, sidesteps the scientific evidence, and fails to match the scale of the alcohol burden.| 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
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