05 Apr 2018 --- Taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco – widely dubbed “sin taxes” – are a powerful response to rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, according to a comprehensive analysis of evidence on expenditure, behavior and socio-economic status, published in The Lancet. Based on data from across the globe, the analysis presents strong evidence that taxes on unhealthy products can produce major health gains among the poorest in society – often disproportionately affected by NCDs.