Government Moves to Curb Harm and Prevent Illness
Namibia is preparing new tax reforms targeting tobacco and alcohol products, an initiative to address a rising public health crisis caused by alcohol harm. According to a report by Xinhua, Minister of Health and Social Services Esperance Luvindao announced these plans at the opening of a four-day workshop on tobacco control and alcohol policies in Windhoek, the country’s capital. The reforms are part of the country’s broader effort to reduce preventable illness, especially among young people.
At 5.9 liters of pure alcohol per capita consumed, Namibia’s alcohol use rates are higher than both the average for the African region of 4.5 liters and the global average of 5.5 liters in 2019, according to data from the WHO Global Alcohol Status Report.
This population level of alcohol consumption contributes significantly to the country’s non-communicable disease (NCD) burden. In fact, NCDs now account for 41% of all deaths in Namibia, according to the WHO.
Filling Gaps in Tobacco and Alcohol Policy
Minister Luvindao emphasised that Namibia has already made progress under the WHO’s MPOWER policy framework (six tobacco control strategies). The country enacted the Tobacco Product Control Act in 2010, followed by regulations in 2014. These policies reflect key MPOWER measures such as monitoring tobacco use, protecting people from secondhand smoke, and banning advertising.
However, according to Xinhua, Minister Luvindao stated that the harm from tobacco and alcohol use continues to burden Namibia’s healthcare system, signalling the need for stepping up the public policy response. She called for increased taxes as an essential step to lower population-level consumption.
Pro health tax reforms are an effective tool to reduce affordability of harmful products and thus they are especially meaningful to protect young people and other vulnerable groups.
In parallel, Namibia is updating its Tobacco Act to regulate emerging tobacco and nicotine products like e-cigarettes, vapes, and hookah. The government is also reviewing its national alcohol policies to urgently address rising alcohol use and related harm. Minister Luvindao made clear that prevention is central to this process.
Support From WHO and International Best Practice
WHO Representative Richard Banda, in remarks delivered during the workshop, called for urgent policy action. According to Xinhua, Mr. Banda noted that tobacco and alcohol use are the leading risk factors for NCDs. He urged Namibia to close remaining policy gaps, strengthen enforcement, and implement proven tools like the WHO’s MPOWER and SAFER frameworks.
The SAFER alcohol policy blue print is a five-point action plan to prevent and reduce alcohol harm. It includes:
- Strengthening limits on alcohol availability,
- Advancing and enforcing alcohol impaired driving counter measures,
- Facilitating access to screening, brief interventions and treatment,
- Enforcing bans or comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising, sponsorship, and promotion, and
- Raising prices on alcohol through excise taxes and other pricing policies.
These strategies are supported by global evidence and have been shown to deliver high-impact health gains.
A Turning Point for People’s Health and Development
In January 2025, a landmark study showed the link between raising alcohol taxes and reducing NCDs in five Sub-Saharan countries. The study empirically investigated the relationship between NCD mortality rates relative to changes in tax rates on tobacco cigarettes and alcohol (beer and spirit). The researchers found that increased taxes on tobacco or alcohol or both lead to falling NCDs rates.
In April 2025, fresh data from South Africa – a neighboring country of Namibia – confirmed that increasing alcohol taxes is an effective public health strategy.
And in the end of April this year, at the G20 Finance Ministers Meeting, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for stronger domestic health financing, highlighting alcohol taxation as a key tool. He warned that many health systems, especially in Africa, were under pressure due to aid cuts and trade disruptions. Dr. Tedros emphasised that taxing harmful products such as alcohol could generate revenue, reduce alcohol harm, and support public health systems. He concluded that health was a political choice and alcohol taxation was a powerful step toward sustainable development and economic stability.
Since then there have been new developments adding to the momentum for and political support of raising alcohol and tobacco taxes, as Namibia is planning.
The World Health Organisation launched the new “3 by 35” Initiative supporting governments to raise the real prices of alcohol, tobacco, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035. Backed by Movendi International and other global partners, the initiative aims to prevent 50 million premature deaths, generate $1 trillion in revenue, and reduce harm from noncommunicable diseases. Evidence from countries like Sri Lanka and Lithuania shows alcohol tax increases lower deaths and boost revenue. Despite alcohol industry opposition, research confirms taxes reduce population-level alcohol consumption, harms, and costs while unlocking revenue and returns on investment. The initiative marks a major step forward in global alcohol policy and offers a roadmap for health and development.
And also in June 2025, for the first time ever, alcohol taxation was formally included in a major international financing for development framework. With the Compromiso de Sevilla, the outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), countries commit to consider raising alcohol taxes alongside tobacco – as a tool for health promotion and revenue generation. Adopted on June 17, 2025, following advocacy by Movendi International and other civil society as well as champion countries, the Compromiso de Sevilla marks a turning point from 2015, when the Addis Ababa Action Agenda excluded alcohol taxes. Alcohol taxation is now recognised as a high-impact way to prevent harm, reduce non-communicable diseases, and finance sustainable development.
Namibia’s decision to move toward raising taxes on tobacco and alcohol reflects a growing recognition of the harm these products and the industries behind them cause. The government’s reforms aim to reduce affordability of harmful products, protect the youth, and ensure a healthier future for all Namibians.
The country’s commitment to the MPOWER and SAFER frameworks, combined with updated legislation and international support, signals a commitment to public health approach to tackling the alcohol and tobacco burden.