Dear djvm98,
Would you tell me the key word about the theory so I can google it.
For me,the price of alkoholi may not relatively high. Comparing it with my place, it's similar. I slightly know... both heavy tax and high price restrict your consuming ability...
But besides theory, there are some structure reasons as well. Many places, like Japan, as far as I know, basically adopte relatively self-contained measures to protect Japanese companies from overseas competition, in return, benefited domestic companies provide financial support to politicians in election. The losers are the people, suffering from unreasonable high price. If they open their market, people will be benefited and enjoy happier lives, but these domestic companies would be forced to face their fierce opponents, many of them would be bankrupt. Of course they would impose pressure on their goverment not to open the market.
Is there certain kind of structure reasons like Japan case in EU members?