The ‘alcopops’ tax will make pills and shots more attractive to teens, writes Jenna Gray.
According to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, teenage binge-drinking is out of control.
His response to this was a decision that had me reaching for the bottle, but only because I couldn’t afford to buy my usual pre-mixed anymore.
I know you should always think before you drink, so this was my line of thought upon walking into my local BWS after the alcopop tax came into effect:
Exhibit A: Six pack of green apple UDLs.
Contents: 7.2 standard drinks.
Alcohol content: 4.5%
Price: $20 - $22
Exhibit B: Bottle of Smirnoff.
Contents: 21 standard drinks.
Alcohol content: 37.5%
Price: $26 - $30
To me the decision seemed obvious. Apparently this reaction was not as obvious to Kevin Rudd, which makes me wonder if he wasn’t a little bit pissed himself when he came up with the idea.
Wouldn’t a more effective way to combat teen binge drinking be to lower alcohol percentages in spirit based mixers? But then no one’s making any money off it, as spirit based alcopops are taxed on alcohol content, and wine products on value.
So maybe think about actually targeting the young habitual binge drinker market? I mean, wouldn’t an increase in tax on casks of cheap wine be a better idea?
Everyone seems to realise that a tax on pre-mixed drinks actually inadvertently encourages binge drinking, because not only are bottles of spirits now a more cost-effective option, but with a bottle and some mixers it’s hard to accurately gauge how many drinks you’ve had (even harder after you’ve already had a few).
And it’s tempting to just have shots, so you could have twice as many standards as you’d usually have in half the amount of time. This is very common and dangerous behaviour, and presumably not what Rudd had in mind as the ideal outcome of this tax.
The economy loses about $56.1 billion a year to illicit drugs, and Rudd predicts the government will raise approx $2 billion from the alcopop tax.
But there is an interesting relationship between alcohol abuse and drug use. Usually when one declines, the other increases, so if people aren’t drinking they’re eating pills.
This is another reaction Rudd failed to anticipate, drug use amongst young party goers will increase because he’s effectively made drugs cheaper than alcohol.
But shouldn’t we be allowed to make our own choices? Turning 18 means you’re old enough and ugly enough to look after yourself.
If you go out and drink yourself to oblivion on Cruisers or Double Blacks or cans of Pulse, then you’re the one who has to deal with the granddaddy of all hangovers the next day.
The government would do better to put more time and energy into addressing issues of addiction and excessive substance abuse than trying to enforce pre-emptive healthcare on the public.
Jenna Gray is supported by Open Doors Youth Service.
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