Implications of Privatizing/Deregulating Alcohol Retail Sales: Projections of Alcohol Consumption in Ontario

Cost of privatisation versus government alcohol retailing systems: Canadian example

“…A study by Her et al . [23] estimated that should Ontario's government controlled alcohol systems be fully privatised it would result in an alcohol consumption increase of approximately 10–20%.…”

“…The most recent study of partial privatisation of British Columbia's retail alcohol monopoly was undertaken by Stockwell and colleagues [11].The study demonstrated that per capital sales of alcohol consumption increased by approximately 8% from 2003 to 2008 in British Columbia. A study by Her et al [23] estimated that should Ontario's government controlled alcohol systems be fully privatised it would result in an alcohol consumption increase of approximately 10-20%.…”

Changes in alcohol consumption following a reduction in the price of spirits: a natural experiment in Switzerland

“…With regard to availability, the reform affected only price; it brought no structural change in the market, such as in outlet density, opening hours, advertising rules or legal drinking age. Earlier research with ‘natural experiments’ concerned mainly the privatization and deregulation of alcohol monopolies in the previous two decades in the European Union (Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 1999) and in North America (see Her et al . 1998, 1999; Wagenaar et al .…”

Does Price Matter? The Effect of Decreased Price on Spirits Consumption in Switzerland

“…In the present case, observed changes in consumption are more likely to be related to the price decrease rather than to other confounding predictors because of the suddenness of the intervention. In the last two decades, similar "natural experiments" on the impacts of alcohol policies have mainly resulted from the privatisation and deregulation of alcohol monopolies in the European Union (Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 1999) and in North America (Her et al, 1998Wagenaar et al, 1999). As a consequence, the alcohol distribution system enlarged, which typically results in changes in both economic and structural availability (Gruenewald, 1993).…”