Ready to drink?
July 28, 2008The debate goes on about the ALP’s tax-grab disguised as nanny-state policy regarding alcohol consumption. Yesterday the distilling industry released data that says since the ALP increased tax on ready to drink alcoholic beverages by 70%, sales of RTD’s have indeed dropped, but sales of hard liquor increased by more, intimating that the tax has pushed up alcohol consumption, not kerbed it, and people now mix their own hard liquor, which is obviously less safe.
The distillers are also threatening to sue if the tax money received is not returned when the legislation is not passed, as it surely won’t be.
Today the ALP hit back by citing tax data that says it is the other way around, and any increase in hard liquor sales is seasonal variation (people really do drink whiskey to keep warm in winter!?).
Family First senator Steve Fielding has an op-ed in the Herald Sun today saying the new alcohol tax didn’t work, and he wants to ban advertising instead. I think it’s a silly idea, and it won’t work anyway. Alcohol advertising is already heavily regulated with laws governing the depiction of alcohol making you more attractive, cool, etc.
The fact is, people love their hooch. You can ban it outright, and people still buy it. You can can do any number of things and it won’t make a bit of difference, people enjoy drinking, and don’t see any consequences that outweigh the fun.
