The impacts of alcohol taxes: a replication review

Abstract

This review examines the effects of alcohol taxes on drinking behavior and health outcomes, drawing on the results of a variety of studies, including systematic reviews, time series analyses, cross-sectional studies, and panel studies. The review argues that the preponderance of evidence suggests that alcohol taxes have a significant and negative impact on drinking, particularly among heavy drinkers. Higher alcohol prices are linked to reductions in total alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and deaths from alcohol-related diseases, including cirrhosis. Evidence for impacts on sexually transmitted diseases and traffic fatalities is weaker, but the overall evidence suggests a dose-response pattern: the larger the tax or price change, the clearer the impact. The review also examines the potential long-term effects of alcohol taxes, arguing that while moderate drinking may have some health benefits, the evidence for these benefits is less convincing than the evidence for the negative effects of heavy drinking. Ultimately, the review concludes that alcohol tax increases are likely to save lives in the long run as well as the short run, and that the evidence base, taken as a whole, supports the view that such taxes are a promising tool for reducing the harm associated with alcohol consumption. – AI-generated abstract