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Binge Drinking + Alcopops Tax = Status Quo

Press Releases August 29 2008

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FAMILY First remains unconvinced the Rudd Government’s alcopops tax will change binge drinking numbers, with a new expert report saying the tax will do little to help.

“The Rudd Government is trying to divert attention from the alcohol toll by making Australia’s binge drinking problem a tax problem,” Family First Leader Senator Steve Fielding said today.

“But binge drinking is a cultural problem and we need to work to change that culture, using alcohol warning labels, tougher restrictions on television advertising and a television public health campaign.”

A paper published today in the medical journal The Lancet by Australia’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre says the Federal Government’s alcopops tax is not likely to cut binge drinking.

The paper says under the tax ‘… overall rates of usual or binge consumption in Australia are unlikely to substantially fall, because spirits hold a smaller market share than beer, and young people will more than likely switch their preference.’

“If the Rudd government is serious about tackling binge drinking, it would stop hiding behind its billion dollar alcopops tax grab and immediately support Family First’s plan for alcohol warning labels and a restriction on alcohol TV advertising till 9.00pm,” Senator Fielding said.

“Australia has a binge drinking problem with a huge social cost of $15.3 billion per year.

“Recent research found 71% support adding health information labels to alcohol products and 72% of the population support restricting TV advertising of alcohol products until after 9.30pm,” Senator Fielding said today.