A group of international scientists has sounded the alarm over rising alcohol and cannabis use and misuse.

They are now proposing a global crackdown starting with a minimum tax of 70 per cent on alcohol and cannabis products.

They also want a total ban on ads and sponsorships linked to the two substances to reduce use.

Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute is Leading the campaign alongside the Global Brain Health Institute.

The researchers are now pushing for a WHO-led global treaty, similar to the one that curbed global tobacco use over the last two decades.

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One of the boldest proposals is a new “harm-to-others” tax on cannabis to account for its wider health and social damage.

The findings and recommendations have been published in Nature Medicine and the statistics show that alcohol use globally is set to increase by 25 per cent by 2030.

Alarmingly, cannabis use is already soaring, with more than 200 million daily users.

Experts warn that excessive use, especially when alcohol and cannabis are combined, accelerates brain aging and fuels rising cases of cognitive decline and dementia.

“We are seeing a silent epidemic,” said Cyprian Mostert, lead author and Brain Health Economist at Aga Khan University.

“Alcohol and cannabis are now the most widely used psychoactive substances after tobacco, and their effects on brain health are dangerously underestimated,” he added.

This is especially true in low- and middle-income countries, where public health systems are already under pressure.

The scientists are urging WHO to act fast and get countries around the table to draft a global pact, just like they did for tobacco in 2003 and cut smoking rates by 25 per cent globally.

“This isn’t just about revenue,” said Professor Zul Merali, Director of the Brain and Mind Institute.

“Taxation is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect brain health and reduce harm.”

He said there is now clear evidence that progressive taxes help lower cases of alcohol-related brain conditions.

The researchers are also calling for investments in brain health research and treatment, especially in underserved regions like Africa.

And with more countries legalising cannabis, they warn that without coordinated global regulations, the world risks repeating past mistakes made with tobacco and alcohol.

The paper was co-authored by experts across Kenya, Ireland, Chile, and the US.