Price

Alcohol taxes and mark-ups in control states, are a way for governments to raise money to offset the societal cost and harm of alcohol use and are generally well-supported by the public. Minimum unit pricing and setting the price floor in control states has also been found to be an effective public health intervention when applied along with taxes, but this policy has not been tried in the U.S. Such strategies are found to increase alcohol prices, lower consumption and reduce alcohol-related harms such as drinking and driving, crime, violence and premature deaths.

Public Opinion and Policy
Consumption & Consumer Choice
Mortality and Morbidity
Alcohol Price and Other Drugs
Government Control

Impact of Maryland’s 2011 Alcohol Sales Tax Increase on Alcoholic Beverage Sales

Learn More

The Relationship Between Alcohol Taxes and Binge Drinking: Evaluating New Tax Measures Incorporating Multiple Tax and Beverage Types

Learn More
  1. Alcohol Consumption, Beverage Prices and Measurement Error
    Young DJ, Bielinska-Kwapisz A. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 64(2), 235-238.
    Date: 2003 (archived)
  2. The Economics of Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol-Control Policies
    Cook PJ, Moore MJ. Health Affairs. 21(2), 120-133.
    Date: 2002 (archived)
  3. Alcohol Taxes and Beverage Prices
    Young DJ, Bielinska-Kwapisz A. National Tax Journal. 55(1), 57-73.
    Date: 2002 (archived)
  4. Reducing Harmful Alcohol-Related Behaviors: Effective Regulatory Methods
    Stout EM, Sloan FA, Liang L, Davies HH. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 61(3), 402-412.
    Date: 2000 (archived)
  5. Economic and Demographic Factors in United States Alcohol Demand: A Growth-Accounting Analysis
    Nelson JP. Empirical Economics. 22(1), 83-102.
    Date: 1997 (archived)
  6. Altering Alcohol Price by Ethanol Content: Results from a Swedish Tax Policy in 1992
    Ponicki W, Holder HD, Gruenewald PJ, Romelsjö A. Addiction. 92(7), 859-870.
    Date: 1997 (archived)
  7. New Estimates of the Optimal Tax on Alcohol
    Kenkel DS. Economic Inquiry. 34, 296-319.
    Date: 1996 (archived)
  8. A Dynamic Demand Model for Liquor: The Case for Pooling
    Baltagi BH, Griffin JM. Review of Economics and Statistics. 77(3), 545-554.
    Date: 1995 (archived)
  9. The Demand for Alcohol: The Differential Response to Price
    Manning WG, Blumberg L, Moulton LH. Journal of Health Economics. 14(2), 123-148.
    Date: 1995 (archived)
  10. My Kingdom for a Drink … ? A Review of Estimates of the Price Sensitivity of Demand for Alcoholic Beverages
    Leung SF, Phelps CE. Rockville, MD: United States Department of Health and Human Services. .
    Date: 1993 (archived)
  11. Alcohol Beverage Price Spectra: Opportunities for Substitution
    Treno AJ, Nephew TM, Ponicki WR, Gruenewald PJ. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 17(3), 675-680.
    Date: 1993 (archived)
  12. Understanding United States Alcohol Consumption with Social and Economic Factors: A Multivariate Time Series Analysis, 1950- 1986
    Treno AJ, Parker RN, Holder HD. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 54(2), 146-156.
    Date: 1993 (archived)
  13. Cross-Country Alcohol Consumption Comparison: An Application of the Rotterdam Demand System
    Selvanathan EA. Applied Economics. 23(10), 1613-1622.
    Date: 1991 (archived)
  14. The Impact of Distilled Spirits Taxes on Consumption, Auto Fatalities and Cirrhosis Mortality
    Cook P. Advances in Substance Use. Suppl, 1, 159-167.
    Date: 1987 (archived)
  15. Do Excise Taxes Save Lives?
    Walsh BM. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 19(6), 433-448.
    Date: 1987 (archived)
  16. The Demand for Beer, Wine, and Spirits: A Systemwide Analysis
    Clements KW, Johnson LW. Journal of Business. 56(3), 273-304.
    Date: 1983 (archived)
  17. New Evidence on Controlling Alcohol Use Through Price
    Levy D, Sheflin N. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 44(6), 929-937.
    Date: 1983 (archived)
Show All