Cigarette Taxes Cut Down on Drinking, Too

States that raise taxes on cigarettes tend to see a decrease in smoking. But a decrease in drinking, too? Yes, say researchers at Yale, reports WebMD. They studied the drinking habits of residents in states where cigarette taxes increased and found that people were boozing less, too. It mostly applied to men, young people, and those with lower incomes. Specifically, male smokers drank 10% less compared with peers in states without the higher taxes, reports NBC News. They also binged less. The reason is what you might think: Smoking and drinking often go hand in hand, so if smokers are smoking less, they're drinking less, too. “That’s pretty consistent with behavioral economics concepts,” says a researcher. Only now, it's quantified. (More cigarette tax stories.)