Noctis: higher alcohol tax is not the answer

Trade body Noctis has added its weight to last minute calls for the Chancellor not to increase alcohol tax.

Noctis executive director Paul Smith made the calls on the eve of tomorrow's Budget.

He said: "Given that below cost selling is commonplace in many supermarkets, it is to be expected that any tax rises on alcohol will simply be swallowed by them.​

"The ontrade by contrast will almost certainly have to raise prices, thereby further increasing the differential between the on and off-trade.

"We've seen over recent months an increased public concern over excessive consumption of alcohol in the public realm.

"By further increasing the cost differential it is not unreasonable to assume that this anti-social behaviour will also increase.

"The Government needs to be working more constructively with the whole of the ontrade on this issue.

"At Noctis we have talked for a long time about how our sector mediates both the sale and the consumption of alcohol - and this is an invaluable mechanism for helping the customer not to over-indulge."

Noctis represents late night operators.