[RTE News] Call for taxes on off-licence sector to increase. (23 Aug 2013)
External website: http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0823/469840-alcohol-ta...
A Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist has said that taxes on the off-licence sector should be increased.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr Bobby Smyth, a board member of Alcohol Action Ireland, said that per capital alcohol consumption is still 50% above what are considered healthy levels.
He said: "It would be great if the Department of Finance, which has come up with a whole bunch of additional taxes for beleaguered citizens, could come up with some mechanism for extracting more tax revenue from the off-trade sector.
"Despite the fact that drink costs €3.7bn in alcohol-related harm, we only take €2bn in tax from drinkers, so it does seem odd that as a society we seem unwilling to ask drinkers to pay for the costs of the consequences of their own behaviour."
Irish adults spend €1 out of every €13 on alcohol, which Dr Smyth said "shows the amazing effectiveness of the drinks industry marketing machine that it's still persuading us to part with that proportion of our hard-earned euro in these difficult times".
The alcoholic drinks industry has said consumption is falling, but Dr Smyth said that was a misrepresentation of the facts.
He said consumption fell in 2007, by about 15%, but it has been static for the past five years.
L Social psychology and related concepts > Physical context, location or place > Alcohol beverage sales outlet (shop / pub / bar)
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Economic aspects of substance use (cost / pricing)
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland
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