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The Effects of Alcohol Excise Tax Increases by Drinking Level and by Income Level

Author

Listed:
  • Saffer, Henry

    (National Bureau of Economic Research)

  • Gehrsitz, Markus

    (University of Strathclyde)

  • Grossman, Michael

    (CUNY Graduate Center)

Abstract

The alcohol industry argues that alcohol excise taxes do not reduce heavy drinking because of substitutions to lower-cost products and that these taxes disproportionately burden low-income drinkers. Alternatively, some economists have argued that increases in alcohol excise taxes reduce heavy alcohol consumption. Using data from the Nielsen Homescan we investigate the effects of a large excise tax increase that raised alcohol prices. The results show that heavy drinkers reduce purchases, and this reduction is no different than the reductions by other drinkers. The results also show that only low-income drinkers pay more for ethanol after the tax increase.

Suggested Citation

  • Saffer, Henry & Gehrsitz, Markus & Grossman, Michael, 2022. "The Effects of Alcohol Excise Tax Increases by Drinking Level and by Income Level," IZA Discussion Papers 15328, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15328
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    heavy drinking; excise tax; alcohol; low income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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