I don't get the tax on alcohol.

[Youcannotbeserious]

OK, I am obviously missing something....

I do appreciate that the UK seems to have a binge drinking culture and I appreciate that we do need to do something about it..

BUT, is it really the cost of alcohol? Is alcohol really cheaper in the UK than abroad? Is that why people here get tanked?

If so, then why do some many people nip over to France for the cheap booze??????

I do appreciate that we need to change the way we drink (or at least some people do!) but I don't really see how this small increase is going to really make a difference..........

Anyone? am I missing some vital point that makes it all make sense?

If I did, however, I'd go to Europe to buy it in bulk.

DH buys rolling baccy this way.

Expat - I totally agree with what you said.

The people who break the law know there isn't any real punishment....

My point is binge drinking may not be good for you, but it's not a crime. Going out and smashing up a car / house / person is a crime.

The problem, as far as I can see, that needs to be addressed is not the availability of alcohol but the fact that a certain element of society thinks it's absolutely acceptable to be destructive / violent... I'm sure the vast majority of us can have quite-a-few-too many without feeling the need to go and lamp someone or smash a window...

Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't think this will make the blindest bit of difference to anything except the treasury's coffers.

Taxing things that are bad for you is totally unfair to rich people who will not be limited by how much things like that cost.

I'm just glad we have a government that cares so much for the common people that they go out of their way to control every aspect of their lives instead of leaving them to do every silly thing they might occur to them

the problem as i see it is groups of young girls will still go out and binge drink, but may be more likely to spend the last fiver on another couple of breezers, rather than a safe journey home.

I've stopped drinking unless someone else is buying anyway - can't afford it.

If the treasury is spending the extra booze revenue on child poverty/deprivation, then I'm all for it. (I'll get to see some money from my ex one way or another then, it'll just go via alaistair D) but i'm inclined to think people will downsize. rather than a breezer - a supermarket own brand, rather than a normal can of super lager, tesco smart price. they'll spend the same amount and get just as drunk, but the revenue gets some extra cash. fine by me, but it doesn't really solve the problem. I'd stop all day drinking instead. it was fab when pubs closed at lunchtime.

i dont think it will change the way people drink at all. binge drinking and the problems that go with it only really occurs 2 nights a week. the amount they have put drink up by is not going to make any differance - its what about 11p per pint?. if you drink 10 pints thats only an extra £1.10 in a night, its really not going to stop people going out getting drunk.
As i said earlier duty on drink has increased in pretty much every budget i can remember, its just a way for the gov to make a bit more money.