Promoting Health
Reducing the burden of noncommunicable disease driven by tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed products
We target root causes with evidence-based solutions that result in sustainable impact at scale. Tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy diets kill tens of millions of people every year —and drive the cancer, heart disease and diabetes burdens straining health systems worldwide. We work alongside governments and civil society to advance health taxes, marketing restrictions and other policies that reduce demand for harmful products, easing the toll on families, health systems and economies.
The burden of preventable disease
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs kill tens of millions of people each year and leave millions more managing chronic illness for decades.
Tobacco use alone causes 8 million deaths annually. Unhealthy diets are linked to 11 million more. Alcohol contributes to 2.6 million deaths each year and affects millions more through illness and injury. More than 7 in 10 of these preventable deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Better data, stronger regulation and compelling public communication can shift that math—keeping people healthier in the first place and changing what’s easiest, most affordable and accessible.
What promoting health looks like in practice
We support partners in advancing concrete policies that make healthier choices easier:
- Reducing tobacco use through taxes, smoke-free policies and pack warnings
- Advancing front-of-pack labeling, marketing restrictions and taxes on ultra-processed products
- Making alcohol policy a public health priority through taxes and access restrictions
- Strengthening non-communicable iseases prevention across health systems and communities
Together, these efforts help prevent disease and enable healthier lives.
Making medication treatment easy to access in communities for people with opioid use disorder in the U.S.
Tobacco Control
Tobacco kills more people than any other consumer product. Vital-supported tobacco control policies—strategic communication, monitoring and enforcement support—have advanced across 50+ low- and middle-income countries, where 80% of the world’s tobacco deaths occur.
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Food Policy
Vital Strategies is a partner in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Food Policy Program, combining policy advocacy with public health campaigns to reduce demand for unhealthy foods and drinks. In South Africa, a Vital-supported sugary drink tax produced a 29% decline in purchases of taxed beverages and a 51% reduction in sugar intake—generating $313 million in government revenue in the first two years. The greatest health gains were among lower-income households, meaning the families with the least resources to absorb a diabetes or heart disease diagnosis are the ones benefiting most.
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Alcohol policy
Vital Strategies leads RESET Alcohol, a global initiative advancing proven alcohol control policies in 15+ high-burden countries—including signficant alcohol tax reform in Sri Lanka.
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Promoting health for healthier people and societies
Promoting health means targeting the root causes of preventable disease—not managing its aftermath. We help partners build the evidence, policy and public support to make the healthy choice the easier one at scale.
Explore other areas of impact
Protecting Communities
We support efforts that reduce exposure to air pollution, extreme heat and toxic hazards and help create safer, healthier environments in the places people live, work, learn and play.
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Preventing Harm
We support health-centered, evidence-based approaches that reduce risk, strengthen prevention and response systems, and protect people from injury, violence and overdose.
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