Alcohol Taxes

[niemeyjt]

Should they be increased?

The WHO says they should for health benefits - with a minimum unit price - and maybe it could increase Government revenues also.

A win-win - or a vote loser?

source: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/23 ... s-per-year

[exile]

Higher prices might deter those who are starting to drink but they will not have any impact on those who are truly addicted.

For those in between that have the choice I suspect that they will just buy cheaper.

Norway has some of the most expensive alcohol in Europe and yet:

"According to the World Health organzation about 8.1% of the Norwegian population have an alcohol use disorder and 4.9% are alcohol dependent compared to the European average of 7.5% and 4.0%."

https://www.quora.com/Is-there-Alcoholism-in-Norway

For me the case is not proven that higher prices will have a major impact.

By analogy I do not see higher prices for tobacco being a major impact on those addicted whereas restricting where and when people are allowed to smoke has had major impacts.

[ajm]

It doesn't seem to work in Scotland. A recent report says that those with a problem are just spending less on food to fund their drinking

[Spectrum]

With going to Scandinavia later this year I did a fair bit of research, alcohol is expensive about 10€ per pint (for comparison) they have this problem as they don't drink mid week, we will try and change that so come weekend they get absolutely plastered, mainly on spirits, that is the wrong way to drink, as it overloads your body, as Iam sure we can all remember as youngster's, steady away is the way to go if you do like a drink IMHO

[exile]

Moderation is even better.

But you are right to point out that drinking habits change from region to region and that is why I was a little cautious in my analysis of the data provided above which on the face of the numbers "clearly" shows that higher prices increase alcoholism.

[Spectrum]

Just to add a little of what else we picked up, as it is so expensive its cheaper for them to get the ferry to Germany to stock up, apparently its a sight to see, lines of Volvos at Keil terminal with their rear bumpers scaping the ground We are on the ferry on a Friday night, so may have some boisterous Viking's onboard, have they stopped rape and pillaging, now they want to join the EU

[Polarengineer]

Having lived a few years in Northern Norway, I can understand their approach to alcohol. It was usual in Holland for me to imbibe in the evening as it gets dark, in Hammerfest it was really dark again at 2 pm after a dusk lunchtime so the tot came out quite early on a winter weekend.

[Spectrum]

Just checked a fuel comparison website in Sweden, Diesel is now at 11€ per gallon and I have a few thousand miles to drive at 30 to the gall

[niemeyjt]

Well, it's €11.41 equivalent here - as it would be in neighbouring France were it not for the 15c reduction.