Increasing the price of alcohol is one of the most effective ways to reduce alcohol use in our country. With less drinking, there is less harm.
We can increase the price of alcohol by increasing the excise tax on alcohol, and/or setting a minimum unit price on alcohol products. Because our wages (overall) have been growing at a faster rate than the inflation on goods (such as alcohol), the affordability of alcohol has increased over time. We can now buy more alcohol with our wages.
This section explains why community action on price is so important to reduce harm, particularly to those most vulnerable who often purchase the cheapest alcohol.