WHO Launches “3 by 35” Campaign to Tackle Harmful Consumption and Boost Public Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a bold global campaign titled “3 by 35,” aiming to curb the widespread consumption of health-damaging products such as tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages. This initiative is designed to support countries in adopting higher excise taxes on these products as a powerful strategy to improve public health outcomes while strengthening national economies.
At the heart of the “3 by 35” framework are three core objectives: reducing consumption, increasing government revenue, and ultimately saving lives. By making harmful products more expensive through taxation, the WHO expects a significant drop in consumer demand. This reduction is anticipated to lower the rates of non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, which are often linked to these products.
In addition to health benefits, the initiative focuses on financial gains. Increased taxes will provide governments with much-needed resources that can be funneled into public health programs, disease prevention efforts, or broader social services. This dual impact—health and revenue—is what makes the approach particularly effective and sustainable.
However, implementing these tax reforms will require determination and resilience from policymakers. As highlighted in WHO’s campaign material, raising tobacco taxes, in particular, demands “strong political will against vested interests.” Industries that profit from the sale of these products are known to lobby aggressively against tax hikes, making political support and public awareness critical to the initiative’s success.
The campaign is being amplified through the hashtag #Tax4Health, signaling a unified global push for using taxation as a preventive health tool. WHO’s “3 by 35” strategy stands as a compelling call to action for governments to prioritize health over profit and take meaningful steps toward building healthier, more resilient societies.
