"We are pleased at the plans to tackle high strength cheap alcohol like white ciders and strong lagers. More alcohol-free and lower-strength cider, wine, beer and spirits are needed to help tackle a ticking time-bomb caused by drink-related health problems, reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder, meet growing demand for them and help ease the pressure on the pub trade."
Responding to the Government’s announcement in the Spending Review of changes to how Alcohol Duty rates are calculated, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:
“We are pleased at the plans to tackle high strength cheap alcohol like white ciders and strong lagers. More alcohol-free and lower-strength cider, wine, beer and spirits are needed to help tackle a ticking time-bomb caused by drink-related health problems, reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder, meet growing demand for them and help ease the pressure on the pub trade.
“Charging duty rates based on the strength of a drink would help to reverse the current system which results in the strongest, most harmful drinks sold in supermarkets and off-licences being the cheapest available – which is harming the nation’s health as well contributing to alcohol-related crime and disorder on the streets of towns and cities.
“There are around 10 million adults in England who drink above the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk guidelines, including more than two million who drink at higher risk and an estimated 587,000 who are dependent on alcohol, so we are disappointed to see no significant increase to the Public Health Grant used to fund alcohol treatment alongside these changes.”