Australia is one of many countries taking aim at so-called “alcopops”, pre-mixed alcoholic drinks that tend to resemble sodas. Australia, like Germany before it, has imposed a tax increase on alcopops in an effort to decrease dangerous underage drinking. It is believed that underage drinkers tend to purchase more alcopops than older drinkers because of the low price, flavors and packaging.
Has it helped? It depends on who you ask.
The Distilled Spirits Industry Council (DSIC) says that the increase in tax on alcopops has led to increases in dangerous drinking. Specifically, the DSIC cites figures that show that sales of alcopops have fallen by almost 40% since the tax increase took effect last month. That would be good, right? However, in that same time, sales of bottles of pure spirits have increased by about 20%.
In other words, more people are probably mixing their own drinks. This worries some who are concerned that those mixing the drinks are not aware of the alcohol content in mixed drinks. This could mean that people are drinking more alcohol than they planned to drink.
However, Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says figures show that the tax increase is achieving its aim of curbing binge drinking among young people: “Consumption of the products that are targeted and [are] particularly attractive to young people [has] dropped dramatically.”
What do you think? Is this just exchanging one bad behavior for another? Would this work in the US?
(Image: Newscom)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
contrary to the article, it’s actually much cheaper to mix your own. The pre-mixed formulas are usually quite weak and people tend to mix their own drinks stronger, especially after they’ve had a few. the answer would be to increase penalties to those who sell to minors. Otherwise, it’s just a ruse to raise revenue – DON’T BE FOOLED !
I agree with Paul on the increase of penalties to those who sell to minors. Increasing a so called “sin-tax” is a sin itself. Those types of taxes are already too high.
I don’t see how taxing “alco-pop” higher than other liquor/spirits will stop underage drinking. We made our own wine coolers when I was in HS, back in the stone age before the distilleries snapped to the idea that they could bottle and sell them themselves. Grain alcohol and Kool-aid will always be an option for the underage boozer. It was kind of disappointing to finally turn 18, and no longer be doing anything illegal.
Personally, I think the legal drinking age should be 12. Get your irresponsible drinking out of your system before you even have a license, so you won’t kill anyone. That’s what me and my friends did back in the early 70s.
We stole our booze from my girlfriend’s parents who bought their gin by the case and never noticed a quart missing here and there. We were 13, we never could have “passed” for legal age anyway, even when the drinking age was 18.
I don’t see why kids are drinking!!! i am 16 and my friends are going out and getting drunk cos they like the feeling of not being in control! it makes me angry to see them like this. i know there are other age groups that drink the “Alco-Pops” but i think that the production of them should be cut down or even stopped. teenagers may drink spirits but what you dont know is that they already drink straight spirits. they’ll get sick of it after a while and move on. call me gay or stupid but i value my brain cells!