America continues to debate the merits of a tax on soft drinks with regard to its impact on obesity. A recent study indicated that those who drink one or more high sugar beverages each day were 27 per cent more likely to be obese, fuelling the debate. Americans are the largest consumers of soft drinks in the world, and the average person in the country drinks almost 200 litres of sugary beverages annually. As such, concerns have been raised about the impact of soft drinks on obesity, with President... ...Read more »

Earlier this week a Federal Government commissioned taskforce relayed the results of research into preventative health strategies, providing an insight into the possible future of regulation for food and beverage manufacturers. Some of the more significant recommendations included: - the banning of alcohol sponsorship of sporting and major cultural events - a call for further research into the possibility of higher taxes on unhealthy food and beverages - a phasing out of junk food advertising on... ...Read more »

The future for health policy in Australia has been outlined today, with plans to hike cigarette prices, ban the sponsorship of sport for alcohol companies and develop a National Food and Nutrition Network. The long awaited release of the report from the taskforce – which was set up in April 2008 – is set to shake up the regulatory environment for food and beverage manufacturers. Among the changes is a controversial plan to not allow alcohol companies to sponsor sporting or cultural events... ...Read more »

The Federal Opposition has today confirmed that it will now support the controversial alcopops tax despite maintaining that it will not help fix the binge drinking issue. The 70 per cent tax hike on alcopops was introduced last year but was voted down in the Senate in March. Since then a Bill has been passed to validate the tax raised prior to the Senate’s rejection, with the Bill being reintroduced today by Labor. Opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton argued that the legislation is nothing... ...Read more »

The Senate has today passed legislation validating the revenue raised from the failed alcopops tax Bill, ensuring $424 million in revenue will not get handed back to distillers. The 70 per cent tax was introduced last year but, with the Senate blocking the legislation earlier this year, new legislation was introduced to validate the revenue already raised. Health Minister Nicola Roxon continues to maintain that the tax is good policy and will again introduce legislation to make it permanent next... ...Read more »

Parliament will resume earlier than usual today as the Federal Government endeavours to push through their controversial alcopops tax. The tax on ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages has been collected for over a year despite legislation approving the tax hike failing to get Senate approval. Earlier this year it was voted down by the Coalition and Family First Senator Steve Fielding with the Government forced to introduce new legislation in a bid to get it passed. It appears a forlorn hope that the... ...Read more »

The Federal Government has today announced that the controversial alcopops tax legislation will be reintroduced to Parliament in May. Speaking at a press conference Health Minister Nicola Roxon and Treasurer Wayne Swan advised that new legislation would also be brought in to validate the tax that has already been collected, ensuring that distillers will not receive a refund. The controversial tax was first introduced in April last year, with alcopop taxes rising 70 per cent before legislation had... ...Read more »

The Rudd Government has altered their alcopop tax legislation to ensure the 70 per cent tax hike applies to ‘malternatives’ – products which taste like alcopops but use the alcohol extracted from wine or beer to beat the controversial tax. Health Minister Nicola Roxon yesterday said she would extend the excise increase from pre-mixed spirit drinks to those based on beer and wine, despite currently lacking the numbers in the Senate to pass the original measure. The legislation has... ...Read more »

Family First Senator Steve Fielding is considering once again taking a stand against the Rudd government’s alcopops tax hike – believing the tax to have been ineffective in tackling binge drinking. It represents another change of heart for the Senator after he first rejected it on the grounds it was merely a tax grab before throwing his support behind it as the financial crisis threatened to blow a hole in the budget. The Federal Government lifted the tax rate on alcopops – Ready-To-Drink... ...Read more »

The controversial legislation to raise taxes on alcopops by 70 per cent has been introduced to Parliament, almost a year after the Federal Government started collecting the extra taxes.The Government raised the tax on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks, commonly referred to as ‘alcopops’, from $39 a litre to $66 last April, due to concerns that they were promoting binge drinking amongst young people. Since then the merit of the tax has been a keen source of debate, especially since some alcohol... ...Read more »