Opinion Former Briefing: Tory plan to tax alcohol

Wednesday, 07, Oct 2009 04:09

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling announced today that if elected a Tory government would launch a drive against binge drinking and anti-social behaviour by sharply raising taxes on alcopops, cider, super-strength lager and making changes to licensing laws.

Grayling outlined his new strategy as:

- Aimed at tackling the problem of "14-year-olds hanging around with bottles of super-strength beers or ciders."

- No tax changes to hit responsible drinkers or changes to the price of a pint in a pub.

- Ban supermarkets from selling alcohol below cost price as a tactic to increase sales of other products

- Increase the price of a four-pack of super strength lager by £1.33.

- Double tax on super-strength cider.

- A tax increase on alcopops would raise the price of a large bottle by £1.50.

- Local councils would have the power to stop town centres being taken over by pubs, clubs and shops licensed to sell alcohol.

- Communities would be given a right of veto over new licences in their areas and there would be tough new rules for existing licensed premises.

- Strict penalties for pubs and off-licenses that break rules and much bigger fines if they sold to under-age drinkers.

- Late-night "problem" premises that sold alcohol would have to pay additional costs to their licence to fund policing costs.

Alcohol Concern commented:

"Strong cider, strong beer and alcopops are some of most irresponsibly priced and problematic alcoholic drinks available in Britain.

"Measures of this kind would be a positive step towards making them much less attractive to teenagers. It may also encourage production of low alcohol products, increasing consumer choice for responsible drinkers.

"But it's limiting to target teenagers when alcohol misuse occurs among all age groups.

"Introducing a minimum price for alcohol will reduce harmful drinking, cutting crime and hospital admissions, while having little impact on sensible drinkers."

Royal College of Physicians commented:

"The easy availability of low cost of alcohol is a major contributor to the problem of binge drinking in the UK and we welcome the recognition that tackling irresponsible pricing will bring real change to people's behaviour. However, we know from experience that supermarkets are willing to absorb tax rises on alcoholic drinks so that they can continue to entice people into their shops with booze offered at rock bottom prices.

"The debate now must move beyond binge drinking and antisocial behaviour and focus the health of the whole population, looking more closely at the huge burden of dependence and damage to third parties. A larger, more public conversation is needed about our attitudes to alcohol as a society and targeted policies, such as minimum pricing, that evidence shows will lead to a reduction in crime and alcohol related diseases."

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