The impact of WIC participation on tobacco use and alcohol consumption

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides food coupons and health benefits to foster in utero and postpartum development of the child. However, due to these benefits, households might reallocate income from food and healthcare services toward...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Contemporary economic policy 2021-07, Vol.39 (3), p.608-625
Main Authors: Kasim, M. Taha, Ukert, Benjamin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol
alcohol consumption
Alcohol use
Consumption
Coupons
Economic policy
Food service
Food stamps
Health care
Healthy food
Households
Infants
matching models
Mothers
Nutrition
Nutrition programmes
Nutrition programs
Participation
Postpartum period
Postpartum women
PRAMS
Pregnancy
Prenatal care
Risk assessment
Smoking
Tobacco
WIC
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Summary:The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides food coupons and health benefits to foster in utero and postpartum development of the child. However, due to these benefits, households might reallocate income from food and healthcare services toward other goods. Utilizing data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, this article investigates the effects of participation in the WIC program on cigarette and alcohol consumption. Our results indicate that the program has no effect on prenatal smoking but increases postpartum cigarette consumption per day by 6%. WIC also has preventive benefits as it decreases prenatal alcohol consumption on the extensive and intensive margins.
ISSN:1074-3529
1465-7287
DOI:10.1111/coep.12525