What if your next pack of cigarettes cost 15 euros? What if a bottle of wine or a can of soda became a luxury reserved for special occasions? This is no futuristic fantasy, but a very real recommendation from the WHO. In a report published at the beginning of July, the World Health Organization calls on countries around the world to apply surcharges of at least 50% on products deemed harmful: tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks.
A tax system at the service of global health
This hard-hitting WHO report highlights a reality too often ignored: excessive consumption of tobacco,alcohol and soft drinks kills more people than war, road accidents and pandemics combined. Worse still, this consumption generates colossal social, economic and health costs, estimated at several hundred billion euros every year.
Behavioral taxation is therefore becoming a priority tool for reducing the prevalence of addictions in every country. In France, which is renowned for its healthcare system, results have yet to match ambitions. Nearly 75,000 deaths a year are still attributed to smoking alone. According to a guide published by the WHO, price increases are now considered to be the most effective measure for reducing thepurchase of addictive products.
Read also: Want to start a profitable franchise with little investment?
A social, behavioral and budgetary emergency
Why the urgency? Because the damage is not just individual. They are social, economic, security-related and budgetary. Every pack of cigarettes or liter of wine bought cheaply contributes to a spiral that swallows up public budgets, overloads emergency services, exhausts carers and reinforces social inequalities.
The French government, under increasing pressure from the Finance Committee, certain deputies in theNational Assemblyand even centrist senators such as Doineau, is beginning to consider voting in favor of an amendment tointroduce a new health tax. A behavioral taxation project could see the light of day in the next finance law. Elisabeth Borne, former Prime Minister, had already timidly raised the possibility of increasing taxes on sugary drinks.
🇫🇷 France lagging behind the world?
Internationally, other countries have already taken the plunge. Mexico has drastically increased taxation on soft drinks and seen a drop in consumption. New Zealand, meanwhile, has abolished all forms of tobacco advertising and is considering a total ban on sales to future generations.
Meanwhile, in France, smokers still pay €12 for a pack of cigarettes, whereas theWHO recommends a minimum price of €12 to €16 to make a real impact. And what about the €0.80 tax on a bottle of wine, unchanged for decades?
What WHO really wants: lives saved, budget secured
It’s not just about filling government coffers. TheWHO ‘s message is clear: public health comes first. Every euro invested in taxing tobacco,alcohol or soft drinks is a euro that strengthens hospitals, funds prevention, saves lives and reduces public spending on dental care, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Anti-smoking laser: a gentle, effective and long-lasting response to addiction
Faced with this wave of tax measures, another approach, more humane, more immediate and above all without side effects, is gaining ground: anti-smoking laser.
Using a method based on auricular reflexology, the anti-tobacco laser stimulates precise points in the ear linked to addiction circuits. In just a few sessions, this technique can considerably reduce the withdrawal associated with quitting smoking,alcohol, sugar and even cannabis. It’s a natural, non-invasive, drug-free method that delivers spectacular results.
Specialized centers like MyLaserTabacare there to support every consultant in his or her efforts to quit smoking, or to overcome any other addiction. With a satisfaction rate of over 90%, anti-smoking laser treatment is now recognized as a valuable tool in the process ofsmoking cessationbut also in the fight against addictive behaviors linked to snacking,festive alcohol, cannabis or sugary drinks.
In conclusion
TheWHO ‘s appeal should not be taken lightly. Raising prices through behavioral taxes is undoubtedly inevitable to ensure a healthier, fairer and economically viable future. But this strategy will only work if it is accompanied byeffective alternatives, such as anti-smoking laserto help the French quit smoking and transform their behavior.
📌 Stop smoking, limit your consumption of soft drinks, wine oralcohol: it’s now possible, without pain or frustration, thanks to a comprehensive, caring and scientifically proven approach.
