Publications

Hard Liquor Is Quicker To Cause Cirrhosis

Previous research has shown that alcohol taxes or prices affect total alcohol consumption, and that aggregate alcohol consumption affects cirrhosis mortality rates. Other evidence suggests that heavy drinkers, who are most at risk for liver disease, are less responsive to price than other drinkers. This study investigated the impact that alcohol taxes – for distilled spirits, wine and beer – may have on cirrhosis mortality.

Researchers examined 30 U.S. states that require alcohol licensing, from 1971 to 1998; they also reviewed each state’s cirrhosis mortality rates, age distribution, religion, race, health-care availability, urbanity, tourism, and local bans on alcohol sales.

Cirrhosis rates were found to be significantly related to taxes on distilled spirits but not to taxation on wine and beer. Consistent with prior research, and based upon correlation with taxation, the results confirm that cirrhosis mortality in the U.S. is more closely linked to consumption of distilled spirits than it is with other alcoholic beverages.

(Ponicki, WR, Gruenewald, PJ: The impact of alcohol taxation on liver cirrhosis mortality. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 67:934-938, 2006.)
Editors Ratings: S=4 V=3 O=4

Related posts:

1. “In Wine There is Truth” but also Cirrhosis
2. “I’ll Have a (Fill in the Blank)”
3. A Drink is a Drink … or is It?
4. Maybe Beneficial News For Those Who Can Handle It
5. Who Do Alcohol Ads Think They Are Kidding?