Effects of beverage alcohol price and tax levels on drinking: a meta‐analysis of 1003 estimates from 112 studies
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis (by design analogy, not clinical CEBM).
OpenAlex W2109812323 · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02438.x
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the relationship between beverage alcohol tax or price levels and alcohol sales or self-reported drinking. Across 112 studies, 1,003 estimates were extracted. Partial correlations were calculated using reported estimates, standard errors, t-ratios, and sample sizes, and pooled using inverse-variance weighted random-effects models.
What was found
Simple means of reported price elasticities were -0.46 for beer, -0.69 for wine, and -0.80 for spirits. Meta-analytic aggregate-level partial correlations between price/tax and sales/consumption were statistically significant (P < 0.001): r = -0.17 for beer, r = -0.30 for wine, r = -0.29 for spirits, and r = -0.44 for total alcohol. Effects on heavy drinking were also statistically significant (P < 0.01) but smaller in magnitude (mean reported elasticity = -0.28, individual-level r = -0.01).
Why it matters
This meta-analysis provides comprehensive quantitative evidence that raising alcohol prices or taxes is an effective public policy lever to reduce overall alcohol consumption and heavy drinking.
Limits
The included studies used varying statistical models, outcome measures (aggregate sales vs. self-reported consumption), and units of analysis. The individual-level effect size on heavy drinking was very small (r = -0.01). Confidence intervals and specific demographic details are not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Even heavy substance users are sensitive to price and reduce consumption in response to taxation.