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Tories plan 'alcopops' tax hike Tories plan 'alcopops' tax hike
(30 minutes later)
The Conservatives are to unveil plans to raise tax on "problem drinks" such as alcopops and super-strength beer and cider to tackle binge drinking. The Conservatives say they would raise tax on super-strength beer, cider and alcopops to tackle binge drinking, if they were to win the next election.
Tax on "alcopops" would be trebled, but money raised would be used to reduce tax on low strength beer and cider. Tax on alcopops would be trebled, but money raised would be used to reduce tax on low strength beer and cider.
The Tories' aim is to hit the drinks they believe fuel yobbish behaviour, without hitting "sensible" drinkers.The Tories' aim is to hit the drinks they believe fuel yobbish behaviour, without hitting "sensible" drinkers.
Duty on spirits has been frozen since 1998 and the chancellor is expected to raise taxes on alcohol next week.Duty on spirits has been frozen since 1998 and the chancellor is expected to raise taxes on alcohol next week.
BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the Conservatives wanted to put pressure on Alistair Darling, ahead of next week's Budget, by showing how they would tackle under-age and binge-drinking through the tax system.BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the Conservatives wanted to put pressure on Alistair Darling, ahead of next week's Budget, by showing how they would tackle under-age and binge-drinking through the tax system.
A spokeswoman for Chancellor Alistair Darling said there was no provision in European law for a separate tax on alcopops and their sales were going down. You can tackle the binge drinks without having an overall increase in the tax on alcohol George OsborneConservatives
Alcohol-related deaths have more than doubled since 1991 to more than 8,700 a year. The Conservatives say, if they were to win power at the next general election, they would look to treble duty on alcopops - a mixture of spirits and fruit juice - and significantly raise it on strong beer and cider.
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne told the BBC: "What we want to show people is you can tackle the binge drinks without having an overall increase in the tax on alcohol, without having a stealth tax really on ordinary people who go about drinking and don't cause the trouble."
Duty on spirits
It would mean a £2 can of Tennents Super would rise to £2.38 while a £1.25 litre of strong cider would rise to £1.66.
Alcopops like Bacardi Breezers costing around £1.25 a bottle would cost £1.79 under the Conservatives' plans.
A spokeswoman for the chancellor said there was no provision in European law for a separate tax on alcopops and their sales were going down.
'Be brave'
But figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats earlier show that every year since 2000, around 100 children aged under 8 were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems.
The Lib Dems say the 10-year freeze on duty on spirits should end and it should go up with in line with inflation since 1997 - adding about an extra £1.50 per bottle.
Dan Shenker, of Alcohol Concern, told the BBC the government had to persuade people not to drink excessively and "be brave" in taking steps to ensure alcohol does not become too cheap.
In February, the British Medical Association said pricing and promotion of drinks was fuelling an "alcohol epidemic" and called for an end to pub "happy hours" and cut-price supermarket deals.In February, the British Medical Association said pricing and promotion of drinks was fuelling an "alcohol epidemic" and called for an end to pub "happy hours" and cut-price supermarket deals.
And last year campaign group the Health Alcohol Alliance called for tax on alcohol to be increased.And last year campaign group the Health Alcohol Alliance called for tax on alcohol to be increased.
Initial findings from a government review of "evidence on the relationship between alcohol, price, promotion and harm" are expected in the summer.Initial findings from a government review of "evidence on the relationship between alcohol, price, promotion and harm" are expected in the summer.
On Tuesday the government announced its measures for dealing with binge drinking - including a "two strikes and you're out" policy for off-licences caught selling drink to under-18s and more instant closures of pubs and clubs where there has been trouble.On Tuesday the government announced its measures for dealing with binge drinking - including a "two strikes and you're out" policy for off-licences caught selling drink to under-18s and more instant closures of pubs and clubs where there has been trouble.