Latest alcohol tax

[melloned]

The latest Government proposal to fix the minimum price of a unit of alcohol at 50p , will increase the cost of my can of Stella from it's current 65-75p , to a whopping a minimum of ?1.25 .
Surely can't be right ! , yet another tax on the majority , supposedly to change the ways of the minority , i think not !

[Devilfish]

Is it a tax or is it simply regulating the sales?

Setting a minimum price tends to suggest that the manufacturers will make more from it and not the government.

[Mr Pumpy]

Another kick in the teeth for the working man.

[Mr Pumpy]

Or woman.

[forntida]

It would need to be a tax for it to be enforceable. That way they can set a minimum price per unit of alcohol. Or am I thinking logically and not politically.

[melloned]

Here's a news clip Mate , it's apparently been shelved , certainly in England , for now , but "there's no smoke" , let's watch the budget , for another bashing !

The Guardian, Monday 16 March 2009
The government is set to ignore controversial proposals from the chief medical officer to establish a minimum price for alcohol which would double the price of many beers and spirits.

Politicians in England and Wales are wary - with a general election little more than a year away - of committing themselves to doubling drinks prices. Plans to charge a minimum of 50p per unit of alcohol are to be put forward by Sir Liam Donaldson today.

The Scottish government is planning to introduce minimum prices for alcohol and these could come into force by the end of the year. It would make Scotland the first country in Europe to introduce minimum pricing, which would be accompanied by a ban on certain drinks promotions.

A Commons committee is to investigate the price of alcohol as part of a wider inquiry and call for evidence from Scotland. Labour MP Kevin Barron, chairman of the commons health committee, said the idea at least deserved consideration even if it proved unpopular with voters.

The proposals for England and Wales, which are backed by health professionals but opposed by drink manufacturers, could double the cost of some beverages sold as "loss leaders" by supermarkets.

It would double the cost of a ?10 pack of lager, nearly double the cost of a bottle of vodka to ?20 and set the minimum price for a bottle of wine at ?4.50.

The Department of Health indicated there was little prospect of the proposal being adopted in England while households were being squeezed by the recession.

It is set to be outlined in Donaldson's annual report on the state of the nation's health tomorrow amid continued concern about the effects of heavy drinking.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics, an independent body that examines ethical issues in health, backed the proposal, saying increasing prices was the most effective way of cutting consumption.

Drink-related illnesses cost the NHS ?3bn a year, while the total expense to the taxpayer of alcohol misuse is thought to be ?25bn a year.

But there was also strong opposition to the idea from those who argue that responsible drinkers would be punished for the misbehaviour of a few.

David Poley, the chief executive of the Portman Group, set up by drinks manufacturers to promote sensible drinking, said: "This would hit the pockets of hard-working families who are already struggling to make ends meet, and it would not deter those people who drink to get drunk."

Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, which represents wine and spirits producers and wholesalers, said: "It is worrying that in the midst of a recession when sales and consumption of alcohol are falling that the government should be talking about raising prices for all consumers at a time when many are already struggling to make ends meet."

James Purnell, the work and pensions secretary, said yesterday the government would not punish the responsible majority of drinkers.

He told the BBC1's The Politics Show: "We want to focus on the irresponsible minority rather than I think punishing everyone equally. Clearly we will look at Sir Liam Donaldson's proposals. He's a very eminent person in his field.

"But we are very clear we don't want to punish the majority for the sins of the minority. I think certainly at a time of economic difficulty that looks like it would be the effect.

"We need to look at the proposals but we are saying we have no intention of going ahead with something that would punish the responsible majority."

The shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Sir Liam Donaldson's report is a frank admission that the government's alcohol strategy has failed. The government's response to his report is another example of Labour's confusion and incoherence.

"If there was an ounce of leadership from Labour ministers on this issue there would be no need for Liam Donaldson to try his shock tactics to kick-start government policy."

He also made it clear that the Tories had no intention of putting the chief medical officer's proposal into practice.

He added: "There is clearly a need for action. But it is very important to recognise that to deal with this problem we need to deal with people's attitudes and not just the supply and price of alcohol.

"Our proposals, which include measures to tackle loss-leader promotions and higher taxes on high-alcohol drinks aimed at young people, would address this without penalising the majority of moderate drinkers. This would seem to be a much better route to go down than distorting the whole drinks market."

The Liberal Democrats also said "ridiculously" cheap alcohol was contributing to the problem of binge-drinking and called on the government to act.

How prices may rise
Stella Artois

10 x 440ml cans (2.25 units per can) ?8.99 (Threshers)

Proposed minimum price ?11.20 (?1.12 per can)

Bottle of Imperial Vodka

70cl (27 units) ?8.99

Proposed price ?13.50

Bottle of Jacob's Creek Shiraz

(9.4 units) ?6.99

Proposed price ?4.70

Bacardi Breezer Raspberry

4x 275ml bottles (1.5 units each) ?2.78 (Tesco)

Proposed price ?3

Strongbow Cider

2litre bottle (10 units) ?2.70 (Tesco)

Proposed price ?5

[chroma]

So theres a recession already already impacting on night out venues, the smoking ban has made a dent on nightly takings and now they want to bump the prices of drinks served?

I only really "go out" once a month nowadays due to how much it costs me, its got to the point where im dropping 100quid on a decent knees up (this covers all drinks, food and travel to and from glorious glasgow town), with the tax bump it would effectively be cheaper for me and the guys to piss off to holland, france or germany for a weekend (you can pick up flights to either for as little as 25 quid online, a taxi home from the city center costs me more.) the government will wind up even more out of pocket.

[melloned]

We used to go on a "jolly boys outing " twice a year to Spain Chroma , but with lack of money and what it cost's you when you're there now , we've missed the last 2 trips , i suppose there's many like us !

[forntida]

Acohol is a bit like the roads. The roads sit there all the time and nothing happens. The alcohol sits in the shop most of the time and does not cause any trouble.

It is the drivers that make the roads dangerous. It is the idiotic drinkers that blame the alcohol.

Tackle the common denominator, the idiots, not the majority of sensible drivers/drinkers.

[lizzy boy]

well said i totally agree! its not fair to punish everone when its only the minority that use alcohol in stupid ways.

[SKATmandu]

The latest Government proposal to fix the minimum price of a unit of alcohol at 50p , will increase the cost of my can of Stella from it's current 65-75p , to a whopping a minimum of ?1.25 .
Surely can't be right ! , yet another tax on the majority , supposedly to change the ways of the minority , i think not !

That is insane!!!

[The-Stranger]

quickfire way to get voted out me thinks

but with the mess they made maybe they want out for a few years?
talk about a poisoned chalice
the debt we are in now cant see anyone wanting to get voted in except the raving loonies

[forntida]

quickfire way to get voted out me thinks

but with the mess they made maybe they want out for a few years?
talk about a poisoned chalice
the debt we are in now cant see anyone wanting to get voted in except the raving loonies

Why do you think that it was them that made the mess?

Tories encouraged house buying
Tories encouraged privatization
Tories encourage PFI

P.S. I don't like any politician. Anyone elcected by the public or members of a club are elected to represent themselves. Just take a close look at committees on local bowling clubs etc: speaks volumes.