A FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES, continued

Product

The price of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug products is an important factor influencing youth access to substances. Regulating price is a highly effective way of curbing use, particularly among youth (Grossman et al. 1994). Price regulations operate primarily through excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products. Due to the underground nature of the illicit drug economy, it is not possible to affect the monetary cost of illicit drugs through formal price regulations; however, it is possible to affect illicit drug prices through drug eradication policies (implemented in countries of production). Examples of alcohol and tobacco environmental strategies that influence price include:

• Increases in State excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products;
• Bans or restrictions on “happy hours”;
• Bans or restrictions on product “give-aways” or discounts.