Missed opportunity to curb underage drinking
The Institute of Alcohol Studies expressed disappointment at
the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s refusal to hike the tax on ‘alcopops’
in today’s budget speech.
In a statement, IAS Director Derek Rutherford said that the
Chancellor had declined an opportunity to tackle a serious and growing
problem. The public were clearly expecting and hoping for the tax on
alcopops to be increased substantially. The fact that this has not
happened makes even more necessary the introduction of a statutory code
on the marketing of alcopops. The IAS also calls on the Government to
take further action through the Office of Fair Trading to remove the
worst offending products from the shelves.