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Higher taxes for strong beer backed

8:09am Friday 3rd September 2010 in


ALCOHOL awareness groups and York Central MP Hugh Bayley have welcomed proposed changes to the taxation and price of alcohol to help reduce alcohol abuse.

National charity Alcohol Concern sent a statement to the Treasury which requested the Government add a ten per cent increase on duty on stronger beers and ciders, between 3.7 per cent and 5.2 per cent ABV.

Mr Bayley told a meeting of the York branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), he supported the idea of laying a higher tax on stronger drinks, as he believed this would help curb heavy drinking and alcohol harm.

He said he was “instinctively” in favour of the move, and there was a “credible case” for lower tax on beers than spirits, and that minimum pricing per unit would not harm responsible drinkers.

The proposal also requests drinks above 5.2 per cent be hit with another ten per cent rise in duty, which would crack down on the sale of the strongest drinks, which are often sold at a loss by supermarkets.

If the proposed duty increase was passed, a 7.5 per cent ABV cider currently selling for £1.96 would have to sell for £3.50.

Phil Hulmes, chief officer of alcohol awareness charity York Alcohol Advice Service (YAAS), welcomed the proposal. He said: “I think it will be helpful to everyone if price was a reflection of the quantity of alcohol, the ABV, to let consumers know just how many units they were drinking.

“I also agree with minimum pricing because I think the cost is extremely cheap, relative to income. Alcohol is a drug, and has some nasty side effects, and price is an obvious way to police that without penalising any social group.”

“It might even encourage people back into pubs where drinking is done under supervision, rather than in streets or gardens.”

Mr Bayley also said “there was no evidence whatsoever” in York to support claims by the Coalition Government that the last shake up of licensing laws in 2003 had had a negative effect.

Comments(13)

howard10 says...
10:14am Fri 3 Sep 10

So if I wanted to go to somewhere like Pivni in town and have a couple of halves of Duvel for a relaxed evening, I'd have to pay nearl 20% more because some people like smashing back tonnes of Stella and getting hammered?

For a change, a case of the many spoiling it for the few.

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Yosser Hughes says...
10:28am Fri 3 Sep 10

Some people cant afford to go out and work hard then enjoy a few cans of Fosters or Carling at home. They are 4%. Hardly strong drink. These people are going to get stung by another tax. If this system comes in, does it therefore meant that spirits, such as vodka, or whisky at 40% will be taxed in the same scale, therefore costing about 300 quid a bottle?

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Slasher Tez says...
10:29am Fri 3 Sep 10

Totally agree with howard10 (excellent choice with the Duvel), for those of us who use drink sensibly as with most things we will suffer and those who abuse alcohol will still continue, this story running on the BBC quotes that 50 lives would be saved in the first year of implementation, you really can just make figures to back up any argument

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York Fox says...
10:50am Fri 3 Sep 10

People who abuse alcohol don't go to the pub and drink 7.5% cider, they buy the cheapest nastiest cider and highest strength lager they can. Increase the price of Special Brew and white Lightning and their cheap equivalents and leave the rest alone.

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Sandbunny says...
10:59am Fri 3 Sep 10

Sorry to see again that the sensible drinkers are going to be caned as yet another excuse for tax hikes is tabled. This measure will NOT encourage people to return to the pubs as more tax increases are planned for next year. This vacuous argument that concerned groups use (concerned about health and social breakdown) should be examined more closely. Alcohol has long been used as a way to sweeten an otherwise dull existence, and our existence is getting more so due to an increasingly crap society. Get real Mr Bailey - it's smug people like you who are making life less pleasant.

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hifive says...
11:43am Fri 3 Sep 10

This will not work! As many have quite rightly pointed out, there's a difference between having a few nice pints of interesting beer and getting hammered drunk in front of the telly on special brew or rank cider! If you're drinking because you have a problem with alcohol, I doubt a nice ambience and what guest ales from what brewery are being served is fore front in your mind. Yet those who can control themselves and want a nice social drink are paying for their afliction?

It just shows how out of touch politicians are with society when they think alcoholics are caning Aspall over White Lightning!

Oh, and if you have that much of a problem with booze, a price increase won't deter you, it'll just mean you have the same problems but are more skint!

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Get-a-grip says...
12:28pm Fri 3 Sep 10

Other headlines today -
Alcohol consumption in 2009 saw the sharpest year-on-year decline since 1948

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-11170814

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Maquis says...
12:29pm Fri 3 Sep 10

A typical Labour idea, we are told by people with an agenda that there is a problem, lets increase tax!

The only way to solve this problem is to bring alcohol back to specialist off licenses and pubs only.
Minimum prices, such as 50p per unit will increase the price of cheap low quality booze, while not affecting the sensible drinker or pubs.
The side benefit is that as supermarkets would no longer be having to subsidise their loss leading beer, and groceries can come down in price ;)

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Victor Smythe says...
2:03pm Fri 3 Sep 10

It's a shame that Mr Bayley and his cronies didn't fix this during their 13 years in office. So why are you mentioning it now?? Publicity?

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tonezzzznoddedoff says...
3:59pm Fri 3 Sep 10

Just another cut back on lifes getting fewer, pleasures. Should imagine a few more pubs going down the toilet too.

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hifive says...
4:09pm Fri 3 Sep 10

Victor Smythe wrote:
It's a shame that Mr Bayley and his cronies didn't fix this during their 13 years in office. So why are you mentioning it now?? Publicity?
As much as I disagree with his views in this instance, he's still an elected politician! Hence mentioning things is kind of his job! D'oh!

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isitjustme says...
4:57pm Fri 3 Sep 10

Frankly i'm not interested in saving 50 lives. That's small beer, and pretty irrelevant. All you have then is 50 living alcoholics with less money than before. The minimum price is a good idea if set at a level that only effects supermarket and off trade. The idea of a super tax on Belgian beer, just to try and hit vagrants drinking Tennants Super is ludicrous. Talk about using a hammer...

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Lamplighter says...
5:49pm Fri 3 Sep 10

"price is an obvious way to police that without penalising any social group.”

What planet does he live on? I enjoy a bottle of wine on a weekend, my pay is bottom end of the scale, how will that not penalise me?

I am completely fed up of these 'do-gooders' who are trying to make me pay more for my pleasure. Why can't they accept that people must take responsibility for themselves. If they have alcohol problems they can get help. It doesn't mean the rest of us should be penalised.
uuuuuuuuuuuuuurgh!!

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York Central MP Hugh Bayley has welcomed proposed changes to the taxation and price of alcohol York Central MP Hugh Bayley has welcomed proposed changes to the taxation and price of alcohol

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