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The World Health Organization (WHO) is pushing for higher taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks, arguing many countries are not using taxes to encourage healthier habits. The WHO on Tuesday released data showing the global tax rates on products like alcohol and sweetened beverages and claimed such rates are “low.” The U.N. health agency found 108 of its 194 member states are taxing some sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), though such excise taxes — which are applied for certain products — are only about 6.6 percent of the price of soda. At least 148 nations applied excise taxes to alcoholic beverages, but...

The excise will not apply to fermented beverages, kvass with ethyl alcohol content from 0.5% to 1.2% inclusive, juices, fruit nectars, juice-containing beverages and fresh fruit drinks MOSCOW, November 21./TASS/.Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law recognizing sugary drinks as excisable items starting July 1, 2023. The published document was initiated by the government, it amends the Russian Tax Code. The excise rate is set a 7 rubles ($0.12) per liter. Non-alcoholic beverages produced with the use of sugar or other or other sweeteners containing more than 5 grams per 100 ml are recognized as sugary drinks...

Voters in New Mexico’s capital city rejected a tax increase on sweetened beverages Tuesday, handing a rare victory to the soft-drink industry after a string of recent defeats. The tax failed with 11,533 votes against and only 8,382 votes in favor, the Santa Fe City Clerk’s Office announced. The special election came after similar taxes were adopted last year in cities from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Outside groups and political committees spent more than $3 million on the special election in Santa Fe, with opponents led by the soft-drink industry and supporters by billionaire Michael Bloomberg, a staunch supporter of...

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Monday is the last day New Yorkers will be able to buysuper-sized sugary drinks in New York City. The cola crackdown goes into effect on Tuesday. The new regulation puts a 16-ounce limit on sugary drinks sold at city restaurants, movie theaters, sports venues and street carts and applies to both bottled and fountain drinks.