The World Health Organization has insisted that the best way to make sure that binge-drinking and other ways of harmful of alcohol abuse are controlled is to raise taxes on alcoholic drinks, in addition to also making marketing regulations stricter.

The United Nations agency has now put forward its report on a global strategy to try and combat the risks linked to alcohol.

The WHO has stressed that consumers, including those who are heavy drinkers and young people, are very sensitive to change in the price of drinks, and therefore, hiking the cost is one of the most effective ways to intervene and cut back the harmful use of alcohol.

An "effective taxation system" has been designated as a key factor in controlling the consumption of beer, wine and spirits.

Last year in New Zealand, a Law Commission report on laws governing liquor had made a similar suggestion and called for higher tax rates on alcohol.