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Does Heavy Drinking by Adults Respond to Higher Alcohol Prices and Taxes? A Survey and Assessment

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  • Jon P. Nelson

    (Department of Economics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA)

Abstract

Higher alcohol prices and taxes are frequently proposed as a policy tool to deal with abusive consumption and adverse alcohol-related outcomes. Its success depends on price responsiveness of drinkers, especially heavy drinkers. This survey examines empirical studies of the price responsiveness of heavy-drinking adults. Additionally, the survey examines the relationship between alcohol prices and mortality due to liver cirrhosis. A review is conducted of 19 individual-based studies that examine price responses by heavy-drinking adults and nine studies of prices and cirrhosis mortality. The review finds only two studies of heavy drinking with a significant and substantial negative price response. For cirrhosis mortality, only two studies find a significant negative price response. Overall, the role of price and taxes as a significant deterrent to heavy drinking by adults is uncertain.

Suggested Citation

  • Jon P. Nelson, 2013. "Does Heavy Drinking by Adults Respond to Higher Alcohol Prices and Taxes? A Survey and Assessment," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 265-291, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:43:y:2013:i:3:p:265-291
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nelson, Jon P., 2014. "Estimating the price elasticity of beer: Meta-analysis of data with heterogeneity, dependence, and publication bias," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 180-187.
    2. Gehrsitz, Markus & Saffer, Henry & Grossman, Michael, 2021. "The effect of changes in alcohol tax differentials on alcohol consumption," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    3. Ajilore, Olugbenga & Amialchuk, Aliaksandr & Egan, Keven, 2016. "Alcohol consumption by youth: Peers, parents, or prices?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 76-83.
    4. Jon P. Nelson, 2015. "Alcohol Prices and Mortality Due to Liver Cirrhosis," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(2), pages 21582440155, June.
    5. David Roodman, 2020. "The impacts of alcohol taxes: A replication review," Papers 2007.10270, arXiv.org.
    6. James Fogarty & Giri Parameswaran, 2017. "Alcohol Sin Taxes," Working Papers 257211, University of Western Australia, School of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    alcohol prices; alcohol taxes; alcohol misuse; cirrhosis mortality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General

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