The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71365

Jose Malave, MA, Puerto Rico Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking, P.O. Box 29132, San Juan, PR 00929-0132, (787) 641-1985 ext. 303, copram@pr.aspira.org

Although Puerto Rico has relatively high taxes on beer and spirits compared to other U.S. territories and states, the retail price of alcohol is quite low and alcohol consumption is high, particularly among youth. Fifty-eight percent of public and private school students in Puerto Rico report having consumed alcohol. Furthermore, a Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation survey reports that, in 2000, the costs of underage drinking in Puerto Rico from fatal alcohol-related traffic crashes, medical costs and crime were higher than state revenues from alcohol. These problems, combined with the lack of any alcohol tax increases in Puerto Rico over the previous 20 years, convinced the island’s Central Government to raise alcohol taxes in 2002, despite heavy opposition from the alcohol industry. This session will discuss strategies used in Puerto Rico to successfully raise alcohol taxes and discuss how raising taxes can be an effective tool in reducing underage drinking.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: (
• compare alcohol tax rates between Puerto Rico and other territories/states, (
• discuss strategies to raise taxes in communities with high levels of alcohol consumption, (
• describe how raising alcohol taxes can help to reduce underage drinking.

Keywords: Alcohol, Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.