Sugar‑sweetened beverages face inadequate taxes and linked to higher liver cancer risk

The Pan American Health Organization says that taxes on sugar‑sweetened drinks in Mexico and other parts of the Americas remain too low and poorly designed. Mexico’s levy is a flat rate based on volume, does not differentiate sugar content, and covers only a limited range of products. Between January and April the country collected roughly 19.3 billion pesos, a real‑terms increase of 46.7 percent, but the organization argues the tax’s structure limits its ability to curb consumption.

A new international study of more than 1.5 million adults followed for an average of 18 years found that higher intake of sugary drinks was associated with a greater risk of two major liver cancers – hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The research, led by the U.S. National Cancer Institute and published in JAMA Network Open, did not find a similar link for artificially sweetened beverages. The authors note the association does not prove causation but adds to evidence that excessive sugar intake contributes to obesity, insulin resistance and liver disease, which can lead to cancer.