A challenge in choosing a special consumption tax rate which falls on all alcohol to reduce
excessive alcohol consumption stems from the heterogeneity of consumers. In particular, the
majority do not consume to excess. ABS data (ABS, 2006) indicate that about 25 per cent of alcohol
consumers consume at a risky level and <15 per cent at a high-risk level. A larger share of
total alcohol consumption, about 30 per cent, is estimated by Collins and Lapsley (2008) to be at
abusive levels. A general tax on alcohol will achieve efficiency gains for the excessive consumers
as illustrated in Figure 2. But, at the same time, the tax will reduce alcohol consumption by the
other consumers and cause efficiency losses. Choosing a tax rate has to recognise and then balance
these conflicting efficiency effects.
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