Darling - stone deaf or daft? SIBA slams budget tax hike
Chancellor Alistair Darling has been accused of "failing to listen to logic" when it comes to tackling binge-drinking in Britain.
Julian Grocock, chief executive of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), slammed Alistair Darling for including draught beer in the eight per cent alcohol tax increases announced yesterday.
He said: "The government, and Alistair Darling in particular, must be stone deaf or daft when it comes to tackling the much-hyped problem of binge drinking in Britain's towns and cities.
"They have refused to listen to the logical argument — accepted almost universally by the on trade, the brewing industry, many MPs and impartial commentators — that the trouble caused by a small minority of young people is mainly due to supermarkets and off-licences selling lager and alcopops cheaper than bottled water.
"The best and safest place for people to drink beer is the pub, an environment controlled by responsible licensees and by the presence of well behaved, sensible customers."
He added: "Traditional draught beer is available only in pubs, an institution admired for centuries throughout the rest of the world. It is totally ridiculous to lump it in with other alcoholic products that get people drunk cheaply in unsupervised streets and public parks."
Meanwhile Edwin Atkinson, director of the Gin & Vodka Association, said the hikes will not result in any more cash in government coffers.
"If he (Darling) wants more revenue, he will not achieve it by increasing taxes. Spirits excise receipts have already fallen by £40m this year since the nine per cent excise rise in March. There is seemingly no likelihood of his achieving his projected revenue increase of £600m this year."
