Doctors demand ‘goon bags’ of cheap wine be ‘taxed out of existence’ because they encourage binge drinking
Doctors have called on the government to increase the taxes for cask wine
Referred to as ‘goon bags’ the cheap wine is a staple for underage drinkers
Physicians want the alcohol to be taxed on its volume rather than value
If approved the wine will be taxed at the same rate of low-strength beer
Source: Daily Mail Australia
By Martha Azzi
26 March 2016
Doctors are demanding cheap casks of wine known as ‘goon bags’ to be taxed on its volume rather than value in a bid to eventually rid alcohol shops of the cheap wine.
The royal College of Australian Physicians have called on the government to tax wine in the same way as beer, reported The Daily Telegraph.
Health practitioners claim the cheap tax currently placed on the alcohol is being abused by underage drinkers causing the health budget to be spent on alcohol related incidents that are preventable.
RACP President Professor Nick Talley said the call for higher tax is not aimed at those who have a glass of wine at home but the younger generation that excessively drinks.
‘This is not about stopping people drinking wine, this is about taxing cheap alcohol, which is abused by young people and those who already have problems,’ said Professor Talley.
‘The problem is low-cost wine, which correlates with higher consumption’.
The College recommended the government replace the Wine Equalisation Tax to match the rate based on volume – equal to what is currently in place for low-strength beer.
The change will allow the government to cut the cost of alcohol abuse as well as raise an approximate $1.3 billion.
‘It has been estimated the social cost of alcohol misuse is $36 billion,’ Professor Talley said.