According to the findings by Canadian researchers, which was also published in the journal Addiction, it was found that for every 10 percent increase in the price of beer, liquor and alcohol, 3.4% of decrease in overall alcohol consumption was seen, even after considering all the general economic indicators. These findings were based on the data collected in between 1989 and 2010 from the Canadian province in British Columbia, where the minimum alcohol prices are set and the information on its sales are provided by the government.
As per this data, every 10% hike in the minimum alcohol prices led to 6.8% decrease in the consumption of spirits and liquor, 8.9% decrease in the consumption of wine, 13.9% decrease in the consumption of alcoholic sodas and cider and 1.5 percent decrease in the consumption of beer.
Head for Center for Addictions Research of BC in Victoria has also accepted the above findings and said that this measure of increasing the minimum prices can help in reducing public health implications such as car accidents and fatty liver diseases.
Health policy experts too opined that the above finding suggests that implementing an alcohol tax policy and setting minimum alcohol prices (a part of alcohol tax policy) is an effective step in designing health policies for a country.
Source: ibnlive.com