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

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

Learn More

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
  1. Are Alcohol Tax Hikes Fully Passed Through to Prices?
    Kenkel DS. American Economic Review. 95(2), 273-277.
    Date: 2005 (archived)
  2. 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)
  3. 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)
  4. 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)
  5. Dynamic Gains and Static Losses in Oligopoly: Evidence from the Beer Industry
    Gisser M. Economic Inquiry. 37(3), 554-573.
    Date: 1999 (archived)
  6. 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)
  7. 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)
  8. 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)
  9. 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)
  10. The External Costs of Alcohol Abuse
    Heien DM, Pittman DJ. Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 54(3), 302-307.
    Date: 1993 (archived)
  11. Mandated Exclusive Territories and Economic Efficiency: An Empirical Analysis of the Malt-Beverage Industry
    Sass TR, Saurman DS. Journal of Law and Economics. 36(1-2), 153-177.
    Date: 1993 (archived)
  12. The Prices of Alcoholic Beverages in the Nordic Countries
    Horverak O, Osterberg E. British Journal of Addiction. 87(10), 1393-1408.
    Date: 1992 (archived)
  13. Price and Health Policy in Sweden--A Critical Review
    Rosen M. Health Policy. 12(3), 263-274.
    Date: 1989 (archived)
Archives