Set minimum price for alcohol, reintroduce alcopops tax

A minimum price per standard drink should be introduced as part of an overhaul of alcohol taxes, according to an editorial published in The Medical Journal of Australia.

Dr Steven Skov, writing on behalf of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Alcohol Advisory Group, argues the alcopops tax has helped to reduce overall alcohol consumption in the community and should be reintroduced.

“Reintroducing the alcopops tax is important but more comprehensive reform of alcohol taxation and other measures are also needed to reduce alcohol related harm,” Dr Skov said.

“Using the tax system to influence pricing is by far the most effective and cost-effective single intervention to reduce the amount of alcohol that is drunk and the harm it causes.

“ Beverages should be taxed based on their alcohol content (volumetric taxation), a minimum price per standard drink should be established and additional taxation should be based on evidence of harm associated with particular beverage types.

“A proportion of alcohol-related tax revenues should be directed towards prevention and treatment of alcohol-related problems.”

Dr Skov welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to reintroduce the alcopops tax legislation in the current sitting of Parliament.

“The tax should be reintroduced because there is evidence it helped reduce overall alcohol consumption,” he said.

“The $400 million in revenue raised from the alcopops tax before it was blocked in the Senate should be directed to independent public health agencies to develop evidence-informed interventions that aim to reduce consumption and consequent harms.”

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.


^{The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.}

CONTACT:     
Dr Steven Skov        0407 877 535
RACP Media Unit      0408 639 697