Alcohol related deaths are likely to increase after cuts in alcohol taxation

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/b-ard040616.php

Public Release: 6-Apr-2016
Alcohol related deaths are likely to increase after cuts in alcohol taxation
Death rates in England fell for 6 years when alcohol duty was increased, but will now rise as taxes are cut and incomes rise
BMJ

Alcohol related deaths are most likely set to increase in England as incomes outstrip rises in taxation, argue experts in The BMJ today.

Meanwhile, the number of alcohol related deaths will likely continue to decrease in Scotland if legislation on minimum unit pricing for alcoholic drinks is implemented

Leading experts Nick Sheron and Ian Gilmore say that if the legislation is passed, it could result in an "interesting and unusual situation" whereby cheap alcohol is constrained by minimum pricing in Scotland, and this may be swiftly followed by the Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

They say the number of alcohol related deaths will decrease in these countries as a result.

However, they note that the situation in England won't change for the better as "incomes are likely to outstrip changes in alcohol taxation," and the "relentless rise" of alcohol related deaths will likely resume.

These predictions are based on their analysis of trends in alcohol related harm in the context of changes in the alcohol marketplace, in turn driven by changes in fiscal policy.

They show that alcohol related deaths are related to the level of taxation.

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tags: drug use, drug abuse