Optimal alcohol taxes for Australia

Abstract

Objective: To estimate welfare maximising tax rates for beer, wine, and spirits using a mathematical model that considers both the welfare loss alcohol taxes impose on non-abusive consumers and the welfare gains due to alcohol taxes reducing externality costs. Results: Optimal per litre of pure alcohol (LAL) tax rates are substantially different to both current alcohol tax rates and the uniform tax rate recommended as part of the 2010 Australian Government Tax Review. Given an individual consumer utility decision model, the best estimate values of the welfare maximising LAL tax rates are: $37 for beer,$11 for wine, $50 for spirits, and$77 for ready-to-drink spirits. Conclusion: As externality costs and the responsiveness of consumers to price changes are different for each alcohol type, community welfare is maximised by setting beverage specific LAL tax rates.Tax, Alcohol, Externalities, Demand and Price Analysis, Health Economics and Policy, I18, H23, H21,