Germany: Alcopops Tax Leads to Reduction in Consumption and Substitution Effect

Results indicate a partial substitution of alcopops by spirits and a switch in preference to beverages associated with riskier alcohol consumption patterns.
There is evidence that riskier alcohol consumption patterns such as higher frequency of binge alcohol consumption and earlier initiation of alcohol use are not caused by alcopop consumption but by alcohol consumption in general. The study’s findings suggest that health benefits of the alcopops tax related to the reduction of total alcohol consumption were mitigated by beverage substitution. Moreover, the tax appears to have entailed negative side effects because a switch to alcoholic beverages that are associated with riskier consumption patterns occurred.
Thus, effective alcohol policies to prevent alcohol-related problems among adolescents should focus upon the reduction of total alcohol consumption instead of regulating singular beverages…