BBC - "Hewitt asks for alcohol tax rise"

Hewitt asks for alcohol tax rise

"Tax on alcohol should rise to reduce binge drinking among teenagers, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has said.

Ms Hewitt urged chancellor Gordon Brown to "really increase" taxes on alcohol, especially on drinks such as alcopops, most popular with young people."


I sympathise with Ms Hewitt's motives and I would not scream too much even if they put up the price of my precious beer. But I don't believe this is anything near being the whole answer. After all, drugs are very expensive but young people still find ways to acquire and take them.

I think getting the message across that drinking to excess is dangerous in the short and long term and that being out of control is far from cool - stupid in fact - is more key to solving this problem.