Booze taxes lower drinking rates

By Alan Mozes

"The more alcohol costs, the less people drink it."

"That's the conclusion of a new analysis of data from more than 100 studies gauging the impact of higher booze pricing -- typically in the form of higher taxes -- on American drinking habits..."

"'I don't think it's that surprising,' acknowledged Wagenaar. 'But it is very important. Because drinking is one of the leading causes of death and medical problems and injuries and addiction. So, we are constantly trying a variety of things to prevent these consequences. And here we find overwhelming, cumulative scientific evidence involving over a hundred studies that show that there is, in fact, a good tool that, no question, shapes drinking practices... '"

Full article available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/15/AR200901...