title: A time series analysis of presentations to Queensland health facilities for alcohol-related conditions, following the increase in 'alcopops' tax.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In response to concerns about the health consequences of high-risk drinking by young people, the Australian Government increased the tax on pre-mixed alcoholic beverages ('alcopops') favoured by this demographic. We measured changes in admissions for alcohol-related harm to health throughout Queensland, before and after the tax increase in April 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the Queensland Trauma Register, Hospitals Admitted Patients Data Collection, and the Emergency Department Information System to calculate alcohol-related admission rates per 100,000 people, for 15 - 29 year-olds. We analysed data over 3 years (April 2006 - April 2009), using interrupted time-series analyses. This covered 2 years before, and 1 year after, the tax increase. We investigated both mental and behavioural consequences (via F10 codes), and intentional/unintentional injuries (S and T codes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We fitted an auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, to test for any changes following the increased tax. There was no decrease in alcohol-related admissions in 15 - 29 year-olds. We found similar results for males and females, as well as definitions of alcohol-related harms that were narrow (F10 codes only) and broad (F10, S and T codes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased tax on 'alcopops' was not associated with any reduction in hospital admissions for alcohol-related harms in Queensland 15 - 29 year-olds.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. s.kisely@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kisely
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000191:economics*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013660:Taxes / Q000191:economics*
keywords: Queensland; alcohol consumption; alcohol tax; alcopops; behaviour modification; drinking risk; emergency department; hospital admissions; youth