Other strategies recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force and US Preventive Services Task Force for reducing alcohol-related harms include regulating alcohol outlet density, avoiding further privatization of retail alcohol sales, and providing adults (including pregnant women) with screening and brief intervention for excessive alcohol use (3–5).
The excise tax rate, in dollars per gallon, imposed by the state on beer containing 5% alcohol by volume. State beer excise tax does not include any additional taxes, such as those based on price rather than volume (e.g., ad valorem or sales taxes) that states have implemented at the wholesale or retail level.
| Rating | State beer excise tax |
| Green | ≥$1.00 per gallon |
| Yellow | $0.50–$0.99 per gallon |
| Red | <$0.50 per gallon |
How These Ratings Were Determined
Data on state beer excise taxes were obtained from the Alcohol Policy Information System (6). As of January 1, 2014, state beer excise taxes ranged from $0.02 to $1.29 per gallon across states for which data were available. The ratings reflect where each state’s tax fell within this range. For states with different tax rates for off-premises (e.g., liquor stores) and on-premises (e.g., restaurants) retailers, the off-premises tax rate was reported.
The excise tax rate, in dollars per gallon, imposed by the state on distilled spirits containing 40% alcohol by volume. State distilled spirits excise tax does not include any additional taxes, such as those based on price rather than volume (e.g., ad valorem or sales taxes) that states have implemented at the wholesale or retail level.
| Rating | State distilled spirits excise tax |
| Green | ≥$8.00 per gallon |
| Yellow | $4.00–$7.99 per gallon |
| Red | <$4.00 per gallon |
How These Ratings Were Determined
Data on state distilled spirits excise taxes were obtained from the Alcohol Policy Information System (7). As of January 1, 2014, state distilled spirits excise taxes ranged from $1.50 to $14.25 per gallon across states for which data were available. The ratings reflect where each state’s tax fell within this range. For states with different tax rates for off-premises (e.g., liquor stores) and on-premises (e.g., restaurants) retailers, the off-premises tax rate was reported.
The excise tax rate, in dollars per gallon, imposed by the state on wine containing 12% alcohol by volume. State wine excise tax does not include any additional taxes, such as those based on price rather than volume (e.g., ad valorem or sales taxes) that states have implemented at the wholesale or retail level.
| Rating | State wine excise tax |
| Green | ≥$2.00 per gallon |
| Yellow | $1.00–$1.99 per gallon |
| Red | <$1.00 per gallon |
How These Ratings Were Determined
Data on state wine excise taxes were obtained from the Alcohol Policy Information System (8). As of January 1, 2014, state wine excise taxes ranged from $0.11 to $2.50 per gallon across states for which data were available. The ratings reflect where each state’s tax fell within this range. For states with different tax rates for off-premises (e.g., liquor stores) and on-premises (e.g., restaurants) retailers, the off-premises tax rate was reported.
Laws that permit alcohol retail establishments to be held liable for injuries or harms caused by illegal service to intoxicated or underage customers.
| Rating | State had |
| Green | Commercial host liability with no major limitations |
| Yellow | Commercial host liability with major limitations |
| Red | No commercial host liability |
How These Ratings Were Determined
These ratings reflect data provided by Alcohol Policy Consultations and ChangeLab Solutions on current state laws for commercial host liability (9–11). A state’s commercial host liability law was considered to have major limitations if it 1) covered underage patrons or intoxicated adults but not both, 2) required increased evidence for finding liability, 3) set limitations on damage awards, or 4) set restrictions on who may be sued.
**State count includes District of Columbia.
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