Levy on cigarettes and alcohol? Ministry denies review, warns against overinterpretation

[The Financial News] The Ministry of Health and Welfare made it clear that it currently has no plans to raise cigarette prices or impose a levy on alcoholic beverages. The ministry issued this clarification after recent policy announcements were interpreted too broadly. On the 28th, the ministry released a press statement saying that reports suggesting it is now reviewing cigarette price hikes and new levies on alcohol are not accurate.
The controversial points were included in the 6th National Health Promotion Plan, which was made public the previous day. The plan mentioned strengthening price and non-price regulations to reduce smoking, as well as the idea of imposing a health promotion levy on alcoholic beverages.
In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare explained that the new plan does not add brand-new policies. Instead, it is part of a midterm review and supplementation of the Fifth Korean National Health Plan (Health Plan 2030, HP2030), which was established in 2021. The ministry noted that the possible increase in cigarette prices and the alcohol levy are simply a restatement of existing mid- to long-term policy directions.
The ministry also stressed that, because these issues could significantly affect people’s daily lives and the broader economy, they require a cautious approach.
It emphasized that sufficient public debate and collection of citizens’ opinions must come first before deciding whether to move forward with any such measures. Going forward, the ministry plans to review related options through expert consultations and a broader public discussion process.

vrdw88@fnnews.com Kang Jung-mo Reporter