Alcohol Consumption in British Columbia and Canada: A Case for Liquor Taxes that Reduce Harm
Date
2007-12
Authors
Stockwell, Tim
Pakula, Basia
Macdonald, Scott
Zhao, Jinhui
Reist, Dan
Thomas, Gerald
Puri, Ajay
Buxton, Jane
Tu, Andrew
Duff, Cameron
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Centre for Addictions Research of BC
Abstract
Overview
• Alcohol consumption in Canada has increased by over 11% in the past decade.
• Per adult absolute alcohol consumption in British Columbia has increased from 8.18 litres in 2002 to 8.53 litres in 2005.
• Since 2002 the numbers of hospitalizations and neuro-psychiatric deaths attributable to alcohol in BC have increased by
11.7% and 18%, respectively.
• In 2005 there were an estimated 25,194 alcohol-related injuries and illnesses in BC requiring hospitalization compared
with 4,817 related to illicit drug use.
• There is extensive scientific evidence to support the use of pricing and taxation strategies as effective means of reducing
alcohol consumption and related harms.
• In British Columbia such strategies are readily achievable because the government alcohol monopoly directly controls
liquor prices.
• 65% of the coolers now sold in BC contain 7% alcohol content and have an average price of $5.41 per litre, compared with
$8.07 for coolers with a 5-5.9% alcohol content.
• We recommend that liquor prices more closely reflect alcohol content and that these are regularly updated with the cost of
living.
• Beers and coolers with low alcohol content should have significantly lower price ‘mark-ups’ applied to give manufacturers,
retailers and consumers incentives to produce, market and consume these products.
• Minimum prices also need to be set and updated regularly to ensure there are no cheap high strength products available.
• We also recommend that a “nickel a drink” tax be introduced to generate $95.7 million per annum for treatment and
prevention programs.
• Detailed results are available at the BC Alcohol and Other Drug Monitoring website (www.AODmonitoring.ca)
Revised January 29, 2008
Description
CARBC statistical bulletin #3
Keywords
liquor, British Columbia, Canada, alcohol, consumption, taxation, harm reduction