I'm not saying there isn't a problem and alchohol is the worst drug I have ever taken by far but for the vast majority of people that drink it is a social thing and not a problem and raising prices is not going to help the people with problems it's just going to hit the pockets of the poorest people who do use alchohol as their only means of socialising.
Sorry about the tone of my other posts I was just out my face on cheap booze ;-P