BBPA: Drinkers won't pay more tax

The majority of responsible drinkers are not willing to pay more tax to help deal with the irresponsible behaviour of the minority.

That is what the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) hopes to prove to the British Medical Association (BMA) after asking for a meeting to discuss the issue of tax.

At the launch of its report Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic​ in February, the BMA said responsible drinkers would be willing to pay more tax on alcohol to protect the public health.

"In our view, the British Medical Association is wrong to press the Government to deter the minority by punishing the majority with higher taxes," said BBPA chief executive Rob Hayward. "That is also the view of the large majority of the public, which overwhelmingly rejects your case for higher taxation."

Hayward stressed the findings of a BBPA poll, conducted by ComRes, which showed that 61% of people would not be prepared to pay more on tax for alcohol to curb the problem drinking of others. A further 82% said higher taxes would penalise sensible drinkers and 86% believed raising taxes would not reduce binge drinking.

A total of 76% believed that higher taxes would increase the pressure on community pubs.

"It is clear that calls for higher taxes do not have public support on grounds either of fairness or effectiveness," added Hayward.

"In fact, piling more taxes on beer would drive more people away from pubs, which remain the safest setting for the social pleasures associated with drinking responsibly."