 | | | | Related Healthscout Videos | |
|
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Raising taxes on beer, wine and liquor may be one of the most effective ways to reduce alcohol related deaths.
In the first study of its kind, researchers found that immediately following an increase in alcohol tax, the number of deaths from liver disease, oral and breast cancers and alcohol poisoning declined. In fact, raising taxes had two to four times the impact of other common prevention tactics like school programs or media campaigns.
Text Continues Below
Researchers gathered data from Alaska, one of the first states to implement a noticeable alcohol tax increase. In 1983, Alaskas tax on beer increased from 46 cents to 63 cents per gallon and it increased again to $1.20 in 2002.
Compared to all other states and factoring in nationwide trends like improved healthcare, researchers discovered that the 1983 tax increase was followed by a 29 percent reduction in deaths, and the 2002 tax increase was followed by an 11 percent decrease in deaths.
In addition, researchers found the impact of the tax increase did not quickly dissipate, but rather remained over a long period of time.
SOURCE: American Journal of Public Health, published online Nov. 14, 2008
Sign up for a free weekly e-mail on Medical Breakthroughs called First to Know by clicking here.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
|
.gif)
