Raise tax on alcohol and junk food to cut deaths from liver disease, experts say

There are 284,000 deaths a year from liver disease in Europe. Photograph: magicmine/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Governments in Europe should impose much higher taxes on alcohol and unhealthy food to tackle the continent’s 284,000 deaths a year from liver disease, experts say.

Taxes on those products should rise sharply enough for the money raised to cover the huge costs they place on health services, the criminal justice system and social services.