The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

NCADD News Release

For More Information, Contact: Sarah Kayson, Director for Public Policy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release:

Statement of NCADD on the Alcohol Tax Equalization Act of 1997

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the nation's oldest voluntary health organization dedicated to reducing the incidence and prevalence of alcoholism and other drug dependencies, strongly endorses Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's Alcohol Tax Equalization Act of 1997. The United States cannot afford to ignore this proposal. In fact, it is a welcome antidote to pending legislation that would repeal small increase in beer taxes that was enacted in 1991. Congresswoman Norton clearly agrees with NCADD that a child's life is worth more than cheaper beer. How will this legislation save children's lives? Studies show that increased beer prices lead to reductions in the levels and frequency of drinking and heavy drinking among youth and that higher beer taxes on beer are associated with lower traffic fatality rates, especially among young drivers. Other studies have shown that even a small increase in the price of beer (10 cents per package of six 12 ounce cans) would reduce the number of 16 to 21 year-old who drink by approximately 11 percent, the number who consume three to five cans per week by 8 percent and the number who consume three to five cans of beer on a typical day by 15 percent. Beer is America's favorite drug, especially among youth. In many instances the price is comparable to that charged for soft drinks and bottled water. Equalizing tax rates among beer, wine and distilled spirits will serve to mitigate the myth that beer is a more "moderate" alcoholic beverage, a myth that is institutionalized by current tax policy. Current alcohol tax policies are based on a prohibition-era assumption that beer and wine are not as bad for people as distilled spirits. But we now know that beer and wine drinkers are just as susceptible to alcoholism and alcohol-related problems as people whose favorite drinks are distilled spirits. Americans support increasing alcohol excise taxes than just about any other tax increase. A March 1993 poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal/NBC found that 87 percent of Americans support a $0.50 increase in a six-pack of beer. It is easy to see why this would be true when you consider that the majority of Americans--who drink less than two drinks a week, if they drink at all--would be paying less than $10 annually in new taxes on alcoholic beverages. Equalizing the alcohol excise tax and making the funds available for prevention makes good sense. Congresswoman Norton deserves strong praise for offering this proposal; NCADD and its 120 affiliates across the country pledge our support to ensure its enactment. NCADD provides education, information, help and hope in the fight against the chronic and often fatal disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions. Founded in 1944, NCADD, with its nationwide network of Affiliates, advocates for prevention, intervention and treatment, and is committed to ridding the disease of its sigma and its sufferers of their denial and shame. 6/24/97

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

244 East 58th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022 phone: 212/269-7797   fax: 212/269-7510 email: national@ncadd.org   http://www.ncadd.org HOPE LINE: 800/NCA-CALL (24-hour Affiliate referral)