WHO. Duty and Tax Free Alcohol/Confectionery

Created on 2nd of November 2005   Last Modified on the 20th of August 2009

Although there are currently no formal proposals, we must anticipate that at some future stage, health activists will also challenge the duty and tax-free sale of other products which they consider injurious to health, such as alcohol and confectionery.

Following the successful completion of their FCTC Treaty on tobacco products, the WHO are increasingly turning their attention to other products considered injurious to health, particularly alcohol. In January 2005, the World Health Assembly adopted a report on the public health problems caused by the harmful use of alcohol, which, inter alia, requested Member States to develop, implement and evaluate effective strategies and programmes for reducing the negative health and social consequences of harmful use of alcohol. At this stage no mention has been made of the possible use of taxation measures in this context. However, increased public concern over both alcohol abuse and rising levels of obsesity could create a climate of opinion where the duty and tax free-sale of alcohol and confectionery products are challenged. The UKTRF will monitor developments in this area and will strenuously oppose any proposals to restrict or abolish duty and tax-free sales of these products, should they emerge.

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