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

Analysis of Price Changes in Washington Following the 2012 Liquor Privatization

Learn More

Estimated Increase in Cross‐Border Purchases by Washington Residents Following Liquor Privatization and Implications for Alcohol Consumption Trends

Learn More

Alcohol Tax Pass‐Through Across the Product and Price Range: Do Retailers Treat Cheap Alcohol Differently?

Learn More
  1. Comparing Alcohol Affordability in 65 Cities Worldwide
    Kan M-Y, Lau M. Drug and Alcohol Review. 32(1), 19-26.
    Date: 2013 (archived)
  2. United States Alcohol Affordability and Real Tax Rates, 1950–2011
    Kerr WC Patterson D Greenfield TK Jones AS McGeary KA Terza JV . American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 44(5):459-64.
    Date: 2013 (archived)
  3. Differences in Liquor Prices Between Control State-Operated and License-State Retail Outlets in the United States
    Siegel M, DeJong W, Albers AB, Naimi TS, Jernigan DH. Addiction. 108(2), 339-347.
    Date: 2013 (archived)
  4. Affordability of Alcohol as a Key Driver of Alcohol Demand in New Zealand: A Co-Integration Analysis
    Wall M, Casswell S. Addiction. 108(1), 72-79.
    Date: 2013 (archived)
  5. The Raising of Minimum Alcohol Prices in Saskatchewan, Canada: Impacts on Consumption and Implications for Public Health
    Stockwell T, Zhao J, Giesbrecht N, Macdonald S, Thomas G, Wettlaufer A. American Journal of Public Health. 102(12), e103-e110.
    Date: 2012 (archived)
  6. The Pricing Policy of Alcohol Monopolies: The Case of Sweden and Quebec
    Spiering C. Unpublished Masters, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam. .
    Date: 2011 (archived)
  7. Changes in Alcohol-Related Problems After Alcohol Policy Changes in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden
    Bloomfield K, Wicki M, Gustafsson N-K, Mäkelä P, Room R. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 71(1), 32-40.
    Date: 2010 (archived)
  8. You Save Money When You Buy in Bulk: Does Volume-Based Pricing Cause People to Buy More Beer?
    Bray JW, Loomis BR, Engelen M. Health Economics. 18(5), 607-618.
    Date: 2009 (archived)
  9. Correlates of In-Store Promotions for Beer: Differential Effects of Market and Product Characteristics
    Bray JW, Loomis B, Engelen M. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 68(2), 220-228.
    Date: 2007 (archived)
  10. What Determines Wine Prices: Objective Vs. Sensory Characteristics
    Lecocq S, Visser M. Journal of Wine Economics. 1(1), 42-56.
    Date: 2006 (archived)
  11. Are Alcohol Tax Hikes Fully Passed Through to Prices?
    Kenkel DS. American Economic Review. 95(2), 273-277.
    Date: 2005 (archived)
  12. An Investigation of the Effect of Privatization of Retail Sales of Alcohol on Consumption and Traffic Accidents in Alberta, Canada
    Trolldal B. Addiction. 100(5), 662-671.
    Date: 2005 (archived)
  13. The Effects of United States State Income Inequality and Alcohol Policies on Symptoms of Depression and Alcohol Dependence
    Henderson C, Liu X, Diez Roux AV, Link BG, Hasin D. Social Science & Medicine. 58(3), 565-575.
    Date: 2004 (archived)
  14. Implicit Taxes Collected by State Liquor Monopolies
    Benson B-L, Rasmussen D-W, Zimmerman P-R. Public Choice. 115(3-4), 313-331.
    Date: 2003 (archived)
  15. Dynamic Gains and Static Losses in Oligopoly: Evidence from the Beer Industry
    Gisser M. Economic Inquiry. 37(3), 554-573.
    Date: 1999 (archived)
  16. The Effect of Correlation Between Price and Quality on Consumer Choice
    Ordonez LD. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 75(3), 258-273.
    Date: 1998 (archived)
  17. Beer and the Tie: Did Divestiture of Brewer-Owned Public Houses Lead to Higher Beer Prices?
    Slade ME. Economic Journal. 108, 565-602.
    Date: 1998 (archived)
  18. Border-Crossing Sales, Tax Avoidance, and State Tax Policies: An Application to Alcohol
    Beard TR, Gant PA, Saba RP. Southern Economic Journal. 64(1), 293-306.
    Date: 1997 (archived)
  19. Potential Consequences from Possible Changes to Nordic Retail Alcohol Monopolies Resulting from European Union Membership
    Holder HD, Giesbrecht N, Horverak O, Nordlund S, Norström T, Olsson O, . Addiction. 90(12), 1603-1618.
    Date: 1995 (archived)
  20. The External Costs of Alcohol Abuse
    Heien DM, Pittman DJ. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 54(3), 302-307.
    Date: 1993 (archived)
Show All