Open AccessAn international analysis of the price and affordability of beer
Author(s) -
Evan Blecher,
Alex C Liber,
Corné van Walbeek,
Laura Rossouw
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0208831
Subject(s) - per capita , high income countries , business , developing country , per capita income , economics , agricultural economics , environmental health , economic growth , medicine , population , pathology
Aims To apply methods for measuring the affordability of beer in a large cross section of countries, and to investigate trends in affordability of beer over time. Methods We use the Relative Income Price (RIP), which uses per capita GDP, to measure the affordability of beer in up to 92 countries from 1990 to 2016 (69 countries were included in 1990, however the survey has since grown to include 92 countries). In addition to affordability, we also investigate trends in the price of beer. Results While beer is, on average, similarly priced in high-income (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), it is significantly more affordable in HICs. There is significant variation in both price and affordability in HICs and in LMICs. Beer has become cheaper in real terms in 49% (18/37) of HICs and 43% (20/46) of LMICs. Beer became more affordable in most HICs (RIP: 30/37 or 81%) and LMICs (RIP: 42/44 or 95%) Conclusions The increased affordability over time of beer in most countries raises concerns about public health. Governments need to increase taxes on beer so that it becomes less affordable over time, in an effort to improve public health.