The Prevention of Alcoholism: Epidemiological Studies of the Effects of Government Control Measures *

Abstract

Abstract Widely used control measures such as the monopoly system and restrictions on the number and type of alcoholic beverage outlets, and on hours of sale appear to be muck less powerful determinants of regional and temporal variation in the prevalence of alcoholism than taxation policy. It is found that where or when Ike price of beverage alcohol relative to average disposable (real) income in high, indices of alcohol consumption and alcoholism are usually low, and vice versa. Differential taxation (involving a disproportionately high tax on spirituous liquors) appears to be effective temporarily, but to result ultimately in the substitution of another beverage source with an increase in consumption and alcohol problems. This is consistent with other evidence which indicates that the overall level of alcohol consumption in a population, regardless of beverage source, determines the prevalence of hazardous consumers and of alcohol–related organic pathologies. The nature of a taxation policy which might be expected to prevent increases, and perhaps achieve a reduction in prevalence is outlined. However, an appropriate program of public education would probably be required in most jurisdictions to render the implementation of the policy fully effective and politically feasible.