If the status quo remains, a population’s consumption of alcohol will to a lesser or greater, but usually significant degree be influenced by changes in alcohol prices. Consequently, many countries have used high taxes on alcohol and prices as an alcohol control measure motivated by social order, and public health concerns in order to decrease alcohol-related harm. Open borders, combined with clear differences in the prices of alcoholic beverages between neighbouring countries, lead to crossborder

trade in alcoholic beverages, and the amount of this cross-border trade affects the

possibilities of increasing alcohol taxes and prices, thus narrowing the repertoire or effects of public health and social policy motivated alcohol control measures...