With speculation rife that beer and wine will be subjected to tax hikes in the upcoming budget, the Australian Winemakers Federation has expressed fears about the future for the sector. CEO Stephen Strachan said that tax increases would cause a substantial loss of jobs as the industry continues to struggle with a glut. “There is concern in the industry that the Government will move in the forthcoming Budget to increase the tax on wine, or to look at a change in the way wine is taxed,”... ...Read more »

A coalition of major health bodies has called for tougher rules on alcohol marketing, citing new research from the US which reportedly found a causal relationship between owning alcohol branded merchandise (ABM) and underage binge drinking.The study, published in the US journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, suggested that teens who own T-shirts or other merchandise featuring an alcohol brand were more likely to begin drinking at an earlier age and were at increased risk of binge... ...Read more »

The Scottish Government this week published its framework for tackling Scotland’s alcohol misuse problem, with a minimum price to be applied on alcoholic products. The strategy was launched by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill with minimum pricing and local flexibility to ban off-sales to under-21s among its key elements. ‘Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action’ aims to: * Introduce a minimum price for a unit... ...Read more »

Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Todd Harper, has proposed removing the current excise on light beer to promote the consumption of products with lower alcohol volumes. “With a rising tide of binge drinking and associated violence and crime, it’s essential that we shift our drinking culture towards lower alcohol alternatives,” Mr Harper said. According to Mr Harper, the tax system provides the best chance to encourage consumers to switch their... ...Read more »

A ban on ‘all you can drink’ promotions in pubs and bars and on certain supermarket discounts are among a range of new measures announced today by British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Health Secretary Alan Johnson.Following an independent review, which reportedly discovered a number of retailers not abiding by their own voluntary standards for responsible selling and marketing of alcohol, the government intends to introduce a new mandatory code of practice to target “the most... ...Read more »

The UK Government has sent a strong warning to alcohol companies via a proposal to implement extensive legislation changes if the industry doesn’t adhere to its’ own voluntary standards. Mandatory regulation and labelling could be on the cards following a major consultation about England’s drinking culture, launched this week by Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo. The Department of Health consultation is published together with independent reviews, which claim that the drinks... ...Read more »

Pressure has been mounting on caffeinated alcohol beverages as US consumer groups look to ban such products. With binge drinking a concern, it appears the focus has now spread from alcopops to caffeinated alcohol products. Anheuser-Busch has announced that they will remove the caffeine, guarana, and ginseng from their flavored malt beverages Tilt and Bud Extra. The move comes as part of agreements reached with the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which in February threatened... ...Read more »

Scotland has announced progress in their quest to create their first ‘National Policy for Food and Drink’. The policy will set out to “boost the industry, support healthier and more environmentally sustainable choices and enhance Scotland’s reputation as a land of food and drink”. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, has floated several new measures including: * A major campaign, led by high-profile chef Martin Wishart, to... ...Read more »

The Australian Government is not the only government making policy changes to curb binge drinking rates as concern spreads worldwide. Like the Rudd Government, the American Government has increased alcopop taxes, while England is considering increasing prices of alcohol in supermarkets. Scotland, though, are planning to go further, with a range of initiatives planned to limit binge drinking. The Scottish Government yesterday launched its new approach with the aim of changing Scotland’s... ...Read more »

ABS data released yesterday reveals that Australians over 15 are drinking about the same amount of alcohol on a per capita basis as they were last year. However, the type of drinks we are drinking has changed slightly. The popularity of beer and spirits have remained fairly constant but the burgeoning popularity of pre-mixed drinks has not let-up with its share of the alcohol market increasing at the expense of wine. Additionally, the type of beer being consumed has become stronger with a strong... ...Read more »