The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) has labelled the latest action by the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA) in delivering look-alike alcopop products to Government Members and Senators, as nothing more than a cynical media stunt. The WFA is supporting attempts to close the loophole that allows the overseas practice of manufacturing so called ‘wine-pops’ and ‘malternatives’ by using alcohol stripped from wine or beer and selling them at... ...Read more »

A loophole in the tax on RTD (ready to drink) alcohol products is to be cut off by the Federal Government, according to reports. The RTD or ‘alcopop’ tax was introduced in May as concerns about binge drinking escalated. Since then Independent Distillers has produced a product called ‘Bolt’, which has exploited a loophole in the new tax arrangements by using the alcohol from beer to create a so-called ‘malternative’. The product tastes very similar to many alcopops... ...Read more »

Family First Senator Steve Fielding has reported that he will now support the controversial ‘alcopop’ tax after in spite of his opposition to the use of taxes to control binge drinking. Mr Fielding said that in light of recent economic turmoil it was now in the best interests of the country for the budget measures to be passed. This has meant he will no longer use his position in the Senate to block the ready-to-drink (alcopop) alcoholic beverage tax nor changes to the thresholds for... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s leading producers of RTD alcoholic beverages has discovered that they can steer clear of the ‘alcopop’ tax by using alcohol derived from beer. Independent Distillers told Fairfax that they are set to launch a beverage called ‘Bolt’, which should appeal to younger drinkers with its passionfruit, raspberry and blueberry flavours. The drink does not use typical spirits, instead utilising alcohol derived from beer. The beer taste is stripped out during... ...Read more »

A website has been set up by the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA) to highlight the millions being reaped by the Federal Government following the introduction of the controversial alcopops tax. In the wake of concern about binge drinking in Australia the Rudd Government announced a 70 per cent increase on taxes imposed on alcopops (ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages), which was introduced before being passed through the Senate. It has since been attacked by some as being... ...Read more »

The Senate Committee Inquiry into the proposed tax increase on “alcopops” begun this morning in Canberra with the public hearing, held over the next two days, to have evidence provided by 17 groups (mainly from health and alcohol sectors). The Community Affairs Committee is due to report on ten issues relating to the proposed tax increase on ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages. The primary issues are: the likely effect of the scheme on RTD consumption prevalence, the modelling underpinning... ...Read more »

A fall in sales of alcopops has been recorded following the marked increase in taxes applied to the beverages by the Rudd Government. Lion Nathan boss, Rob Murray, has claimed that sales of alcopops may have fallen by up to 30 per cent since the price hike about a month ago. “The first 4-6 weeks were always going to be the worst in terms of a drop in sales,” Mr Murray was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun. “It has been a substantial reduction in sales so far, but we will... ...Read more »

The heavily publicised ‘alcopop’ tax is no certainty to be passed through the Senate, with both the Liberal and Greens parties indicating a lack of support for the legislation. The bill, which Coca-Cola Amatil have claimed could cut sales in ready-to-drink (RTD) alcohol spirits by up to 10%, is expected to earn the government about $2 billion over the next four years. However, there has been criticism that the tax is nothing more than a revenue raiser with expectations of tax... ...Read more »