Doubling the current state of taxes on alcohol — which would tack in as much as 50 cents for the price of the average six-pack or a bottle of wine – it can be expected to reduce alcohol-related deaths by 35%, fatal car crashes by 11% and the dimensions of the disease by 6%, according to the survey.
Forecast for higher taxes on + also lead to less violence and 2% 1.4% less crime investigators.
What is surprising, the sequence of the effect of a wide range of health outcomes that kind of have nothing to do with each other, "says Alexander c. Wagenaar, PhD, lead investigator and Professor of epidemiology and health outcomes in the University of Florida in Gainesville.
If the State alcohol taxes are doubled, six tax-pack or a bottle of wine would increase with anywhere from a few cents to 50 cents depending on the status and tax standard bottle of liquor may go by several dollars. (If federal taxes are doubled, instead, the increase will be about 30 cents per six-pack and 20 cents per bottle of wine).
Although modest, these tax hikes would increase over time and eventually may limit heavy drinker who see their weekly alcohol budget justification for college student, and even country + social drinker for storage sites. "Studies show that all these groups respond to price, "says Wagenaar.
Even a slight decline in drinking may have a major impact on public health.If millions of people living in an area consumed half drink less per week, on average, small differences in alcohol intake – and intoxication – can cause large drops in the overall injury rate area, says Wagenaar.
There is some evidence that improvements in tax may reduce unhealthy behaviors, even for people who are dependent. increases in taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products have shown that reducing the rates of smoking and influence of heavy smokers to cut back or quit.
In a new study published in the American Journal of public health Wagenaar and his colleagues analyzed data from re-50 tests examine the link between increases in taxes on alcohol and the rates of drinking problems relating to the illnesses, including death, car crashes, STDs, violence, crime and suicide. most of the studies that were conducted between 1995 and 2004, seen the alcohol tax increases in America.
One of the research – led by Wagenaar itself — focuses on Alaska, one of several countries have implemented significant alcohol tax Investigators found status increases. alcohol-related dipped in 1983 and 2002, immediately after the tax increase. increase in 1983, which upped the imposition of tax on a bottle of beer from four to six cents, is connected with 23 fewer deaths-29% decrease.
The following pages: States have been reluctant to raise taxes on alcohol
