As reported on the “ON LINE Opinion” site, the tax-hike on pre-mixed drinks has been in effect since midnight on 26 April. Ever since the tax rise was brought in there have always been a lot of quetions about the government’s motives behind its implementation. Although it has been claimed that the tax-hike is part of an effort to curb the rising tendency of teenagers to ‘binge-drink’.
It may be that this tax will in fact deter some binge-drinkers from purchasing certain pre-mixed drinks, however, it is obvious that there will be a higher demand for the cheaper alcoholic beverages. I work at a major bottle-store in Melbourne and I’ve noticed that since the tax on ‘alcopops’ was raised, there has not been any significant change in the purchasing patterns of R.T.D’s. There seems to be a slight trend towards the purchase of spirits, however, the sale amounts of pre-mixed drinks has remained steady.
The article on the “ON LINE Opinion” site makes a very good point, supporting the claim that the goverment is only chasing extra revenue with the tax:
“Look at the 2001, 2004, and 2007 surveys compiled by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and you also find that between 2001 and 2007 there was no overall increase in high-risk binge drinking by people aged 14 to 19. In fact, the percentage reported as bingeing weekly was 10.7 in 2001 and 2004, before falling to 9.1 in 2007.
The figures for young women are even more damning. In 2001, the percentage of 14 to 19-year-olds bingeing weekly – five or more drinks on any one occasion – was 11.8 per cent. In 2004, the figure was 10.5. In 2007, this had fallen to 9.5. Even the figure for 14 to 19-year-old young women bingeing monthly has fallen since 2001 from 21.2 to 18.8. And the number of abstainers has increased from 25 to 29 per cent.” (http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=7311&page=0)
Clearly the so-called “binge-drinking epidemic” is not quite as dire as the goverment would have the public believe.
How surprising the government is chasing more revenue! Maybe, if this ‘binge-drinking epidemic” was so serious they’d have pictures of drunken stumbling teenagers emerging from bushes covered in vomit, oh but that would involve spending some of the money they get from the tax hike…
Really like your informative style that still portrays your stand on the subject clearly and a little of your character.