“They warn of insufficient taxes to reduce consumption of harmful products”
Forbes Mexico reports:
“In a joint position, Salud Justa Mx and the Mexico SaludHable Coalition – which brings together more than 60 organisations – asked legislators to adjust the project in accordance with international recommendations on healthy taxes.
“However, they considered it unacceptable that the initiative did not include an increase in the tax on alcoholic beverages, which – they estimated – cause about 42,000 deaths a year and generate social and health costs for 552,000 million pesos (about 29.870 million dollars).
“The organisations called on the Senate and the House of Representatives to correct the opinion before its final approval in the framework of the discussion of the 2026 Economic Package.”
Assessment
This renewed civil society call highlights how alcohol policy continues to lag behind other areas of fiscal policy reform to promote health. While tobacco and sugary drinks are included in the 2026 package, alcohol remains exempt – a clear sign of the alcohol industry’s capture of the Mexican government and parliament and their interference in the public policy process.
By coordinating across more than 60 organisations, the coalition keeps attention on this gap and on the public health and equity gains achievable through effective alcohol taxation. With the 2026 Economic Package under discussion in Congress, advocates still have an opening to highlight the inconsistency of excluding alcohol from Mexico’s “healthy taxes” agenda.
By amplifying stories of people affected by alcohol harm, evidence on health and economic costs, engaging supportive legislators, and exposing the alcohol industry’s conflict of interest in shaping the budget and public policy, advocates have an opportunity to ensure that tax policy aligns with public interest goals.