Study Finds Raising Alcohol Taxes Reduces Excessive Drinking, Motor Vehicle Crashes, and Other Alcohol-related Harms
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April 30, 2010
Raising alcohol excise taxes is a highly effective strategy for helping to prevent deaths due to excessive drinking in the United States, according to a systematic review published in the February 2010 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The review evaluated 73 published articles and reports that examined relationships between the price of alcohol, excessive drinking, and harmful consequences of excessive drinking, including motor vehicle crashes and alcohol-impaired driving.
Higher alcohol prices or taxes were consistently related to:
- Fewer motor vehicle crashes and deaths
- Less alcohol-impaired driving
- Lower levels of underage drinking
- Lower rates of violent crime, including homicide, assault, robbery, and rape
The review found that raising the price of alcoholic beverages by 10 percent would reduce consumption by about 7 percent. The review was led by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientists and overseen by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Based on the strong evidence from this review, the Task Force recommends raising alcohol excise taxes to reduce excessive drinking and related harms.
Learn More
Motor Vehicle Safety: Impaired Driving—resources from CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.