Tue, 20 Nov 2007

HSE calls for tax rise on alcohol

An RTE article details that the HSE is making a call for an increase in the tax on alcohol. While I abhor alcohol abuse and the tragedy that it undoubtedly causes, previous tax rises have utterly failed to reduce consumption. I see no reason to see why this increased tax should have any more effect than previous ineffectual initiatives.

Perhaps the government might like to consider some 'carrot' rather than perpetually attempting to come up with new, yet equally useless, 'sticks' with which to beat us. As a musician who spends significant amounts of time in pubs the length and breadth of the country, can I humbly suggest that the government look seriously into the following, to start with:

reduce the ludicrous price charged for soft drinks in pubs
consider encouraging pubs to serve tea and coffee for a reasonable price, as well as alcoholic drinks.
abolish licensing hours: stop imposing archaic and irrelevant time limits on those who wish to drink alcohol and encourage them to exhibit some self control. I thought Britain had a 'Nanny State' until I heard some of the 'ideas' the Irish government and associated entities were coming up with...

Perhaps some of these measures might actually encourage people to reduce their alcohol intake, by providing them with a reasonable alternative to quaffing pints of beer in order to get as much in before closing time as possible.

Just my thoughts...
posted at: 01:49 | path: | permanent link to this entry