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Keep Your Grubby Hands Off Our Wine

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Calliope

Calliope

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Now the nanny State is proposing to tax wine out of the reach of pensioners.

CHEAP wine will be banned under a federal health agency's plan to make drinkers pay at least $8-$10 for a bottle of booze.
The Federal Government's Australian National Preventative Health Agency will advise this week that a "floor price" and new taxes be calculated as a way to make alcohol dearer.
The prohibition plan to stop cheap drunks binging on discount drinks - including cask wine and cleanskins - has delighted health groups but sparked an alcohol industry revolt.


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/ind...ze/story-e6frfm1i-1226494990848#ixzz29DVqKTAx
 
http://www.news.com.au/business/indu...#ixzz29DVqKTAx
The Federal Government's Australian National Preventative Health Agency..has found "strong community support" to change the existing alcohol tax system...The Wine Federation calculates the price of cask wine would treble to $47.40
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Strong community support? Really? I don't remember being asked. Pricing carbon, pricing pokies, now pricing alcohol? What with the Volstead Act having been so successful and all.

What's next, pricing TAB betting, pricing full fat dairy, pricing beef, pricing non-hybrid cars? The dead hand of big government.
 
A glass of my $6.50 cleanskin makes my teenagers much more tolerable of an evening. I guess if the govt insists on me buying a $10 bottle I could make up the difference by feeding the family sausages instead of steak? I'm joking - but this is probably what a lot of "desperate housewives" will be tempted to do. It's time our govt woke up to the fact that you simply cannot legislate away all of society's issues - it didn't work with the alcopops (now the kids all drinking redbull & vodka instead) and it won't work with wine either. What's next? - a surcharge on all fast food? It's just as likely that overweight Aussies eat too much bread, pasta etc and exercise too little - raising the price on any substance that is overused/abused by a small proportion of the population serves only to hurt the majority who drink/eat sensibly, but appreciate a cheap treat.

Does anyone ever actually think about what might be much more effective in reducing health problems caused by substance abuse? How about education? How about enforcing minimum drinking age? Why not spend some money on a targeted ad campaign and "booze-ed" alongside sex-ed in high schools? I'd really like to see some energy put into solving the "cause" of the problem rather than just trying another tax-grab. What made more difference to the number of smokers in Australia? - education or price/tax increases? I'd say it was education about the health effects and the change in society's attitude towards smokers - dedicated smokers still found the money for their habit somewhere.
 
It's a proposal at this stage. So let's give them some feedback.
Mark Butler is the relevant minister.
Mark.Butler.MP@aph.gov.au

Send him an email. It will take each of us less than a minute.

This is about the last straw with this nanny government.

There are thousands of people on low incomes - already struggling with increased electricity prices etc - who look forward to a glass of cask wine with a neighbour at the time the Mark Butlers and the august members of the AMA are sipping their expensive cocktails or rare wines - who will be deprived this simple pleasure.

If there is sufficient public protest it won't happen. Remember: this government will do anything to retain power.
They couldn't care less about those who drink to excess if it will lose them votes.

Email Mr Butler and the AMA also.
 
How is alcohol taxed? Fixed, volume or alcohol percentage or a combination?

Would/could this be a hidden agenda for more revenue collection or to try to get into surplus before the next election?
 
DocK said:
A glass of my $6.50 cleanskin makes my teenagers much more tolerable of an evening.
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bellenuit said:
Is that after you drink it or they drink it?:)
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Definitely after I've drunk it - although maybe the 16-year-old would be less stroppy and a bit more talkative after a wine :D I've a couple of years yet till I have to cope with a teenager who's been on the sauce, thank goodness :eek:
 
DB008 said:
How is alcohol taxed? Fixed, volume or alcohol percentage or a combination?
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From the above link;

It has found "strong community support" to change the existing alcohol tax system, so that wine would be taxed on the basis of its alcohol content rather than its price.
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Beer and spirits are taxed based on alcohol content.
 
Get in early and get Dan Murphy to deliver of of these. (free delivery):)

7cvm925q-1335849380.jpg
 

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DocK said:
I've a couple of years yet till I have to cope with a teenager who's been on the sauce, thank goodness :eek:
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Dont be so sure, lots of kids start drinking around 16, myself included when i was that age...
 
I hate the idea of this wine tax, we have a great industry here and due to that we can drink very high quality wines at very reasonable prices...why change something that's good.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.
 
So_Cynical said:
I hate the idea of this wine tax, we have a great industry here and due to that we can drink very high quality wines at very reasonable prices...why change something that's good.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.
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+1

Value for money, l think that Australia is worlds best.
 
prawn_86 said:
Dont be so sure, lots of kids start drinking around 16, myself included when i was that age...
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As did I - but I was working and my parents were OK with it. I'm definately not Ok with it, and he's a student with no income, and very attentive parents :rolleyes: I'm lucky to have good kids, with good friends - they're possibly unfortunate they just don't have the freedom their parents enjoyed.
 
DocK said:
I'm definately not Ok with it, and he's a student with no income, [...] - they're possibly unfortunate they just don't have the freedom their parents enjoyed.
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Why are you against it? Just out of interest, and probably slighty off topic.

If he asked to have a couple beers with his mates would you be annoyed or what would your reasoning be?

Feel free not to answer if the question is too intrusive
 
prawn_86 said:
Why are you against it? Just out of interest, and probably slighty off topic.

If he asked to have a couple beers with his mates would you be annoyed or what would your reasoning be?

Feel free not to answer if the question is too intrusive
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He's only 16 and his brain is still developing - studies have shown that alcohol at too early an age can have negative effects. He's just a kid and will have all his adult life in which to drink alcohol if that is his choice - what's the big hurry? Kids of his age are still developing the maturity to cope with their emotions and hormones without alcohol being added to the mix. I also don't see the need to reinforce or introduce the idea that alcohol is required in order to have a good time or deal with life's problems. He and his mates are living carefree and happy lives and I'm delighted that none of them seem to be chafing at the bit to be allowed all things adult. He's seen the way some older boys (and girls) behave when drunk and reckons they look like complete tossers. He's had the occasional taste of wine and beer, and has seen his parents and our friends drink socially, and to be honest he just doesn't really seem that interested.
 
So_Cynical said:
I hate the idea of this wine tax, we have a great industry here and due to that we can drink very high quality wines at very reasonable prices...why change something that's good.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.
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Agree...it also allows these great drops to be exported so that Expats can enjoy them at a reasonable price...

This latest move reminds me of Argentina's version of Gillard...Very controlling. The next thing will be the Gillard government taking over private and public businesses, back to SOEs:rolleyes:...Shes just got that mentality now i reckon. Fortunately she'll get voted out of office before then.

CanOz
 
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