Research demonstrates higher alcohol taxes help reduce alcohol consumption

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To reduce consumption of toxic things like cigarette,cigar,nicotine Zarda,khaini etc one policy has been adapted that their price should be increased by putting more tax on these items sothat it becomes more costly so that majority of people cannot purchase so be refrain from it's use and thus protecting their life from their hazardous effect.In India more symbolic pictures of cancers occupying almost 75 % space on their packing has been ordered by supreme Court so that persons using it get frigthened by seeing these images and avoid using it .

                    But Tax increases may not sound the most attractive of policy options, but one study has shown that Tax enhancements are the single most cost-effective way of diminishing demand and reining back consumption, of alcohol even in western developed countries ” says Dr Daniel Chisholm, Programme Manager in the Division of Noncommunicable Diseases and Promoting Health through the Life-course at WHO/Europe and co-author of a new study on alcohol control policies.

The study, conducted by WHO and one of its collaborating centres based in Canada, was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs in July 2018. It analyses the cost–effectiveness of a range of alcohol control strategies. Using data from 16 countries, the study assesses the costs and health impacts of different policy options, with a view to identifying “best buys” for reducing harmful alcohol use and thereby improving overall health in the population.

Previous research has indicated that more than 5% of deaths worldwide and over 4% of the global burden of disease are directly related to alcohol use. The study shows that increasing alcohol excise taxes by 50% would be the most cost-effective policy to reduce harmful alcohol use.

This measure is more efficient than alternative options in the same price category, such as restrictions on sale hours and advertising, and significantly less expensive than other policies considered. Indeed, it would cost considerably less than the equivalent of US$ 100 for each year of healthy life gained. However, low levels of awareness of health risks related to alcohol consumption and strong lobbying from the industry often lead to low excise taxes, warns Dr Chisholm