Life-Saving Potential of Small Price Increases on the Cheapest Alcohol

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January 24, 2024

New CDC Study Suggests the Life-Saving Potential of Small Price Increases on the Cheapest Alcohol

Discover how we can lower social and economic costs from excessive alcohol use and reduce the harms associated with alcohol use. In a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, CDC researchers explore hypothetical policies around modest increases in the price of cheapest alcoholic beverages.

	Focused on the state of Michigan, CDC researchers explored the implementation of two specific alcohol pricing policies known as alcohol minimum unit pricing policies. In the study, the hypothetical policies pertained to liquors sold at places for consumption elsewhere. The findings offer an example of how population-level policies can make a real difference in saving lives.

Learn more about the potential of small price increases for curbing harms from alcohol use, including deaths. How do these minimum unit pricing policies work?

Alcohol minimum unit pricing policies work by increasing the prices of the cheapest alcohol based on the number of standard drinks in a bottle or container where it is sold. A standard drink is based on the amount of pure alcohol, such as one shot of 80-proof liquor or a 12-ounce beer with a strength of 5% alcohol by volume. People generally buy and consume less alcohol when the price increases, which can lead to decreases in alcohol-related deaths.

What did the study find? Small increases to the prices – of about 13 cents per standard drink – to the cheapest 8% of alcohol products could reduce per capita alcohol use in a state by nearly 4% and prevent more than 350 deaths a year in a state. This study suggests that implementing minimum unit pricing policies for alcohol could be a highly effective strategy for curbing alcohol-related deaths. By making slight price adjustments to cheapest alcohol products, hundreds of lives could be saved annually within a single state. Learn more information here.

Social media resources

Links CDC's new factsheet on minimum unit pricing policies: https://bit.ly/47B03Is Research study: https://bit.ly/47OPX6W Messages & Graphics

Did you know? A new CDC study suggests that increasing the price of alcohol can save lives. #DrinkLess [Link to factsheet or study]

Did you know? A new CDC study suggests that increasing the price of alcohol can make a big difference in lowering alcohol-related deaths in states.  #DrinkLess [Link to factsheet or study]

Have you heard about the new CDC study that suggests increasing the price of alcohol could save lives? You read that right. #DrinkLess [Link to factsheet or study]

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