'Double' tax hike for drinkers expected in budget
According to the Telegraph, 'drinkers face a "double whammy" of tax rises in the forthcoming emergency budget which will see the cost of beer, wine and spirits increasing sharply for the second time in three months.' A 5% duty rise combined with an increase of 2.5 percentage point rise in the rate of VAT rate would be thought to put 19p on a bottle of Chardonnay, while a bottle of Gordon's gin would rise 65p to £13.80. Publican report here.
Welfare reform pilots scrapped
A press release from the DWP this week announced Ministers have decided not to take forward previously proposed Welfare Reform Drug Recovery pilots. Under the Welfare Reform Act 2009 the pilots had planned extra support for those voluntary disclosing a drug or alcohol problem, as well as the power to test and impose conditions on drug and alcohol users. The charity Drugscope welcomed the news in its press release.
Professor Ian Gilmore Knighted
Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians, has been Knighted for services to improving Public Health (BBC report). Professor Gilmore has been a vocal advocate of measures such as minimum pricing and restrictions on alcohol advertising, mainly as chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance.
Doctor warns of crisis point of young people with alcohol-related diseases
A doctor in Merseyside has warned he is seeing more and more people in their 20s and 30s with neurological diseases and mental disorders triggered by alcohol abuse. In a BBC report Dr Stephen Hood, a consultant at the University Hospital Aintree, said "We need to get people to realise that these conditions, like cirrhosis and dementia, are not 'old people' diseases. Young people are becoming more and more prone to developing them. It is reaching a crisis point."
Diageo invests in Purple Flag scheme
According the Morning Advertiser, Diageo is to invest around £100,000 over three years as headline sponsor of the ‘kitemark’ scheme that recognises safe and successful nighttime economies. Purple Flag status is given to nightspots that are judged to have taken strides to improve the environment at night for visitors and residents, including measures for tackling alcohol-related disorder.
Comments