However, according to the 1998 Corporate Alcohol Study by the Harvard School of Public Health, light and moderate drinkers cause 60 percent of alcohol related incidents of absenteeism, tardiness and poor quality of work, while dependent drinkers cause 40 percent. At least 11 million of the nation s children live in households with an alcoholic parent. Families of alcoholics are characterized by marital instability, lack of emotional support, poor discipline and family conflict. 1998 Johns Hopkins University study. However, an increasing number of college students are drinking to get drunk.
Most young people can easily afford to buy alcohol.
In real dollars, alcohol costs less today than in 1981 because alcohol excise tax rates have failed to keep up with inflation. According to the Beer Institute s 1998 annual report, brewers can look forward to increased domestic sales over the next several years if they can avoid significant new tax or regulatory measures. This revenue, which goes into the general treasury fund along with tobacco excise tax revenue, is not earmarked for alcohol prevention and treatment programs. The Internet is gaining popularity as a place for beer, wine and liquor manufacturers to promote their products. According to the Center for Media Education, alcohol websites on the Internet have grown from 43 in 1997 to 77 in 1999.