What U.S. Data Should be Used to Measure the Price Elasticity of Demand for Alcohol?

Christopher Ruhm, Alison Jones, William C. Kerr, Thomas K. Greenfield, Joseph Terza, Ravi S. Pandian and Kerry Anne McGeary

No 17578, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper examines how estimates of the price elasticity of demand for beer vary with the choice of alcohol price series examined. Our most important finding is that the commonly used ACCRA price data are unlikely to reliably indicate alcohol demand elasticities--estimates obtained from this source vary drastically and unpredictably. As an alternative, researchers often use beer taxes to proxy for alcohol prices. While the estimated beer taxes elasticities are more stable, there are several problems with using taxes, including difficulties in accounting for cross-price effects. We believe that the most useful estimates reported in this paper are obtained using annual Uniform Product Code (UPC) "barcode" scanner data on grocery store alcohol prices. These estimates suggest relatively low demand elasticity, probably around -0.3, with evidence that the elasticities are considerably overstated in models that control for beer but not wine or spirits prices.

JEL-codes: H2 I12 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-11
Note: EH PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

Published as Ruhm, Christopher J. & Jones, Alison Snow & McGeary, Kerry Anne & Kerr, William C. & Terza, Joseph V. & Greenfield, Thomas K. & Pandian, Ravi S., 2012. "What U.S. data should be used to measure the price elasticity of demand for alcohol?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 851-862.

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Journal Article: What U.S. data should be used to measure the price elasticity of demand for alcohol? (2012)
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