Hysteria over alcohol tax rises totally unfounded?!
Meanwhile the drinks industry was wringing its hands and claiming it would be driven into bankruptcy. Publicans were desperately trying to pass the rise on to the brewers, who were claiming it would ruin them.
Now I am no mathematician, but it seems to me that a binge drinker would have to swill down 25 pints to pay just ￡1 extra, and anyone who can't afford an extra 50p on a bottle of spirits shouldn't be drinking anyway. This is all obvious peurile tantrums and has no basis in real hardship. Alcohol is a luxury anyway, nobody is forced to buy it to survive.
So what does anyone else think? Pissheads comments welcome as well as normal people.
Answers: In the last budget the chancellor put beer up by 4p a pint and spirits by about 55p a bottle. he claimed it was to stop binge drinking, but later back traacked and admitted it was just to raise money.
Meanwhile the drinks industry was wringing its hands and claiming it would be driven into bankruptcy. Publicans were desperately trying to pass the rise on to the brewers, who were claiming it would ruin them.
Now I am no mathematician, but it seems to me that a binge drinker would have to swill down 25 pints to pay just ￡1 extra, and anyone who can't afford an extra 50p on a bottle of spirits shouldn't be drinking anyway. This is all obvious peurile tantrums and has no basis in real hardship. Alcohol is a luxury anyway, nobody is forced to buy it to survive.
So what does anyone else think? Pissheads comments welcome as well as normal people.
it really isn't about a couple of pence here or there but the continuous increases in tax we have been faced with since they came to power. Where are our taxes going, can you look around and say things have improved? i cant. Its the way once they get to a level on tax people wont stomach anymore they then tax something for 'our benefit' to improve our health. Like you said a few pence but added to the rises in fuel, food, above inflation council tax rises and mortgages then it soon adds up. but at least our politicians will keep their final salary pensions and john lewis expenses.
Hi,I do not think people would be bothered about the extra Tax if it was spent on the NHS.
This pisshead pays enough for their booze. Tax the fat *** drivers who can't manage a walk to Bargain Booze. Seriously the pubs will shut due to the smoking ban and the high price of booze and we'll all be stuck at home playing on the internet:(
My husband is a publican and is tied to a brewery for all beer, wines and spirits. They raise their prices a couple of times a year as well as with the budget, also they charge us extortionate prices which have to be passed onto the pub going public much to their despair.
You'd be surprised at how many people moan about a few pence increase on their pint.
Publicans work very long hours and have to put up with a lot of crap.
One way to tackle binge drinking is to stop cheap booze in supermarkets/off licences. At least people drinking in pubs are over 18 (or should be if the landlord is responsible). Most of the young people off their heads in the High Street on a Sat night got drunk before they came out (didn't we all used to do this)?
PS. Some p***heads are normal people too!!
I agree with you...is that normal or pisshead?
the price of supermarket alcohol was meant to go up to stop teenagers drinking in the street, I have just been out to walk my dogs 2 vodka bottles and umpteen beer bottles scattered on the pavements