No kidding, right?
But it’s literally true, based on new research from the University of Sheffield's School of Health and Related Research.
The UK government has lowered taxes on alcohol repeatedly since 2013, resulting in a one percent increase in alcohol consumption in the UK.
And that tiny increase in consumption? Meant almost two thousand more deaths and over 61 thousand hospital admissions over the time from 2013 to 2019. This increase (along with increases in hospital admissions, workplace absence, and alcohol-related crime) was felt most heavily in poor communities, with almost 40% of the deaths happening among the poorest 20% of the population, in part because of the types of beverages that have seen the largest price decreases.
It’s why the World Health Organization sees taxation as one of the best ways to cut back on alcohol-related harm to society. Almost every country taxes alcohol, but there’s a lot of variation in the amount and type of taxes. This research suggests the answer is to keep taxes rising in line with inflation to keep prices high across all types of alcohol.
We can’t control alcohol taxes, but if you’re cutting back or quitting drinking, we’d love to help. Drinker’s Helper is an app that provides motivational exercises, drink tracking and insights into why you drink, and a support group of your peers to help you make needed changes. Try it free for a week before joining!
