Call for unhealthy food tax to protect liver health

06 May 2026

The burden of illnesses related to liver is increasing in Europe.

A commission of experts from the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the Lancet medical journal says that European governments should increase taxes on alcohol and unhealthy foods that are driving the trend.

They argue that this would help cover the huge costs these products place on health services.

The experts call governments to stop online advertising of alcohol and junk food that targets minors.

They group together ultra‑processed food, alcohol, tobacco and fossil fuels. All four contribute to 2.7 million deaths each year in Europe, according to the health agency of the United Nations.

The commission identifies four main causes of liver-related death: alcohol, unhealthy diets, obesity and viral hepatitis. They think that decreasing behavioural risk factors, such as eating unhealthy diets, could halve the prevalence of liver disease and could also reduce the number of people who develop other correlated diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.