In this week’s instalment of citizen journalism, Flinders University Professor, Anne Roche, offers the trade an opportunity to tell the Government what it thinks about volumetric tax for alcohol products.
“Dear Hotel, Bar, Club and Liquor Industry Staff,
The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) has been contracted by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to conduct a feasibility study on setting a floor price for alcohol products.
This study is being conducted nationally to determine if state and territory governments, working in conjunction with liquor licensing bodies, can introduce a floor price to control high-risk alcohol consumption.
For the purposes of this study, an alcohol floor price is defined “as a minimum fixed price per standard drink applied to all alcohol products in Australia.
Please note that an alcohol floor price is not a synonym for an increased levy or tax on alcohol. It is a distinct and unique strategy.
A key strategy that is being used to inform the feasibility study is obtaining input from relevant stakeholders in the community.
I would like to invite you and/or your organisation, as an important stakeholder, to make a written submission on the feasibility of setting a floor price for alcohol products.
An electronic version of the submission package can be downloaded from the NCETA website at .
Enquiries about the submission process can be made directly to Allan Trifonoff, Deputy Director (Programs) on 08 8201 7511.
The deadline for submissions is: 5.00 pm EST, 22 September 2008. Electronic submissions are preferred and should be forwarded to nceta@flinders.edu.au.
We look forward to receiving your input on this important matter. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.”