Do you think that high excise taxes(taxes on specific goods) on items such as tobacco or alcohol should be used to discourage people from consuming those items?

Yes it could be done to discourage people from consuming tobacco or alcohol.

Explanation:

Normally government encourages or discourages use of goods by reducing or increasing the tax on the goods.As everybody aware that the use of tobacco or alcohol consumption damages the body and even might reduce the life span of the consumer.When the taxes are more, people tend to reduce the use of those item and at one point of time, the consumer might stop the usage slowly. This is one way to increase the lifespan of the consumer consuming alcohol or tobacco.

Stop