Welsh Assembly to push for alcohol tax increase
The Welsh Assembly Government will press for a rise in alcohol tax as part of a 10-year substance misuse strategy.
The 'Working Together to Reduce Harm' strategy proposes a joint approach to drugs, alcohol and other misused substances.
It will also press for stricter rules on the promotion of alcohol and a reduction in the drink-drive limit.
Speaking at the launch of the consultation at the Cardiff Drugs and Alcohol Team, Brian Gibbons, the minister for Social Justice and Local Government said: "Substance misuse can have a devastating affect not only on the substance misuser, but their family, their friends and the neighbourhood they live in.
"The proposals set out in the draft strategy will build on the good work that resulted from the previous strategy and from the lessons learnt. It is a 10-year route map for all agencies in Wales to make a real difference to reduce harm and to improve lives."
The strategy will backed by an extra £9.6 million in the Substance Misuse Action Fund over the next three years taking the total amount of funding to more than £27 million per annum by 2010-11.
There will also be an additional £3 million over the next three years from the Health Inequalities Fund to assist with the delivery of an alcohol action plan and nearly £11 million a year ring-fenced funding provided to local health boards for tackling substance misuse.
The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, said: "Reducing substance misuse - and excess alcohol consumption in particular - should be seen as a priority for us in Wales.
"There is growing evidence that young people in Wales are starting to drink at an early age and regularly binge drink - with consequent risk of injury, road traffic crashes, unsafe sex and anti-social behaviour, so this new 10 year strategy will help tackle the culture of binge drinking and other substance misuse extending into adulthood."
However industry watchdog the Portman Group said it had shown that the activities of drinks producers were already subject to tight controls.
Chief executive David Poley said: "Raising tax to cut levels of misuse would be ineffective. Drinks producers are ploughing millions of pounds into the Drinkaware Trust's campaigning work. Education can change the culture just as it did with drink-driving."
