Heavy Thinking About Heavy Drinking

Reviews the book, Paying the tab: The costs and benefits of alcohol control by Philip J. Cook (see record 2007-13733-000). Cook, the author, is a professor of public policy and economics at Duke. The main purpose of his book is to convince the reader that increasing taxes on alcohol would lead to a significant decrease in alcohol use and that such a decrease would diminish the detrimental effects on society due to excessive drinking. He is not critical of drinking; he is concerned about excessive drinking and its physical and societal consequences. Professor Cook divides his book into three parts: I, Rise and Fall of Alcohol Control; II, Evidence of Effectiveness; and III, Assessing Policy Options. Part I includes a historical review of the financial importance of revenue generated from alcohol taxes. We learn that Prohibition may not have been financially feasible if it were not for the establishment of the income tax to help support war efforts. In a chapter called the "Alcohol Movement," Cook reviews diagnostic issues of alcohol-related disorders as well as various treatment approaches, including 12-step programs. The review is a brief, general, and useful overview. The reviewer encourages anyone interested in learning about the public health issues related to alcohol to read this book. It provides fascinating information about the public health problems stemming from heavy drinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)