Advocates, Lawmakers Launch "Sinasaktan ng Alak ang Pamilya" Campaign to Curb 47 Daily Alcohol-Related Deaths

Health groups and legislators officially launched the nationwide "Sinasaktan ng Alak ang Pamilya" (Alcohol Harms the Family) campaign on Friday, calling for a major overhaul of the country’s alcohol taxation to address a growing public health crisis.

The movement, led by the Sin Tax Coalition and supported by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), highlights that approximately 47 Filipinos die every day due to alcohol consumption.

A Growing Health Crisis

Data presented during the launch emphasized that the impact of alcohol extends far beyond public disturbances:

Nearly half of the 47 daily deaths are attributed to liver cancer. In 2021 alone, alcohol use contributed to 20.3% of all deaths among Filipinos aged 15 to 29. Advocates noted that alcohol is a primary driver of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular issues and various cancers of the gut.

Legislative Strategy: Pushing for Higher Taxes

The campaign is centered on the passage of House Bills 5475 and 5476, co-authored by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula. The proposed measures aim to:

The bills seek to increase specific tax rates significantly to discourage consumption. For example, under current proposals, taxes on certain pre-mixed beverages could rise from ₱82 per proof liter in 2026 to as high as ₱252 by 2031. Revenue generated from these "sin taxes" is earmarked to sustain the Universal Health Care (UHC) program, providing subsidies for senior citizens and indigent patients.

Lawmakers want to reclassify pre-mixed alcoholic drinks, often marketed as "coolers" or "breezers," as fermented liquors to apply a more effective tax structure.

Personal Impact

The launch featured a moving testimony from Romeo Tancioco, a stroke survivor and former heavy drinker. Tancioco shared his struggle to quit for the sake of his family, illustrating the campaign's message that alcohol damage often stays "hidden behind closed doors" until it is too late.

"More than revenue, we are looking at alcohol tax as a health measure," said PMA representatives, urging the government to treat alcohol as a major public health priority similar to tobacco.