Posted on 10/18/2005 1:04:41 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch
Studies of teenagers suggest that heavy drinkers are more likely to be sexually active, more likely to have multiple partners, and less likely to use condoms. This risky behavior increases the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that reducing heavy drinking among youth may slow the spread of STDs.
The authors analyzed the relationship between incidences of gonorrhea and the price of alcohol. Because beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage among youth, the authors used state excise taxes on beer to represent the price of alcohol. Their models also included the presence (or absence) of 0.08 and 0.10 blood alcohol concentration laws. The authors found that:
A 10 percent increase in the average state excise tax on beer will reduce the gonorrhea rate by 4.4 percent for boys ages 15 to 19 and by 3.7 percent for men aged 20 to 24. Zero tolerance laws -- which typically set the maximum blood alcohol percentage at 0.02 for underage drinkers -- also reduce gonorrhea incidence by an estimated 7 to 8 percent in 15-19 year-old boys. Other drunk-driving laws appear to have no effect; nor does living in a dry county. Nevertheless, the authors believe that increasing the excise tax on beer is effective in combating the transmission of STDs, including AIDS. They estimate that:
A 10 percent increase in the average state excise tax on beer will reduce AIDS rates by a range of 5.1 to 8.5 percent among young males. The magnitude of the effect falls to a range of 3.2 to 6.4 percent for older males. The opposite pattern holds true for female AIDS rates, where a bigger response is expected for older females. Source: Linda Gorman, "Alcohol Policies and Sexually Transmitted Disease Among Youth," NBER Digest, July 2005; based upon: Michael Grossman, Robert Kaestner and Sara Markowitz, "An Investigation of the Effects of Alcohol Policies on Youth STDs," National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper No. 10949, December 2004.
For article:
http://www.nber.org/digest/jul05/w10949.html
For abstract:
http://papers.nber.org/papers/w10949
For more on Health Issues:
http://www.ncpa.org/iss/hea/
But, luckily, through taxes, you CAN do social engineering. Look how well it worked for cigarette smoking--and EVERYBODY got rich and had someone to make fun of and look down on. ;-D <-p>/sarcastic rant
AIDS is spread by Homosexual activity. Queers don't drink beer, just white wine spritzers.
I'm thinking this is one of the 94% of statistics that are made up on the spot. Either that or somebody in the study is doing the wrong thing with the beer bottles...
Only as a way to discourage STDs.
With nany statists don't ever, EVER, take the first layer of the oniion as anything but the cover.
But gay guys don't drink beer. How will this stop AIDS? They need to tax White Zinfandel and wine coolers... you know... the fruity, queer stuff.
Linda Gorman, "Alcohol Policies and Sexually Transmitted Disease Among Youth," NBER Digest, July 2005; based upon: Michael Grossman, Robert Kaestner and Sara Markowitz, "An Investigation of the Effects of Alcohol Policies on Youth STDs," National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper No. 10949, December 2004.
HUH??? Only one thing that will stop the spread of AIDS, and it isn't a tax!
What these so called "sin taxes" are, is hypocisy. The government doesn't want you to quit drinking and cigarette smoking. What if everyone voluntarily quit consuming and inhaling? The government would sh*t kittens trying to make up the lost revenue.
Draconian laws have already been passed to prevent under age drinking and smoking, by targeting the retailers and anyone else who serves alcohol. All it does is make the behavior more appealing to rebellious adolescents.
I hope you were being sarcastic in your reply.
Yes!
Sheesh! I can't believe you had to ask...:-(
a better way would be to eliminate gay clubs in high schools.
Gee because SOOOO many Teens are able to buy alcohol legally....let's just punish all those who are able to legally buy alcohol. That'll fix the problem!!
Err ummmm no it won't.....
With the final core layer of the onion always being RAISE TAXES!!!!
Ahhhhhh, that felt good.
It's going to be a long winter up here, rolling my own butts and home brewing in the cold, dark house.
God almighty,this is about the stupidest thing I have ever read.
Will the "study" madness ever end?
Is nothing sacred?
NO BEER TAXES!
NO BEER TAXES!
NO BEER TAXES!
NO BEER TAXES!
They can tax the crap out of Near Beer though....
Read My Lips....NO BEER TAXES!
Of course, it is hard to read my lips with that beer mug in the way all the time.
One of the first acts that Mikhail Gorbachev did when he took over leadership of the Soviet Union was to try and reduce alcohol consumption by limiting vodka sales. As soon as he did that, the stores emptied of sugar and all the other ingredients for making moonshine.
I have no doubt today's teenagers are just as resourceful.
Regards, Ivan
Mears, it seems that there is always a group out there that wants to dictate to the rest of us how we will live our lives. I'm sick of them.
And if they are going to tax beer, then have it go to a useful cause instead of a bunch of liberal propaganda. How about for free cab rides home from the watering holes!
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