Revamping UK Alcohol Duty: What It Means for Public Health
The new system is good for public health. However, it's not all good news, because the new system still maintains this rather anomalous exception for cider, whereby taxes on cider are much lower than taxes on other products, and that's really hard to justify from a public health standpoint.
Ever wondered how changes in alcohol duty can affect your health and community? The Institute of Alcohol Studies tackles this in their latest episode of the Alcohol Alert podcast. The episode dives into the recent budget announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which proposes taxing alcohol based on its content. This new system aims to curb heavy drinking by making stronger drinks more expensive. Sounds promising, right? But there's a twist.
The exemption for cider remains, leaving public health advocates scratching their heads. Why give cider a free pass when it’s often consumed in large quantities? The episode also explores the effects of pandemic drinking habits and the controversial decision to freeze duties for another year. On top of that, they discuss Irish alcohol taxation and the additional relief for small beer and cider producers.
This episode offers a thorough look at the UK's alcohol duty overhaul and its potential ripple effects on public health. Tune in to get the full scoop!