Nudging Alcohol Moderation via Excise Tax Reform: The Case of Beer in Australia

Abstract

Australia taxes alcohol consumption more than most other affluent economies. A switch to low-alcohol beer has been encouraged in Australia by it being subject to a lower rate of excise tax than regular beer, but no such incentive applies to packaged mid-strength beer. Would more or less alcohol be consumed if the tax rates for mid-strength beer were lowered, for example to those for low-strength beer? This study estimates changes in demand that could result from such a policy change. It finds that alcohol consumption from each of beer, wine and spirits could fall, but by only a little more than 1% in total.