Gumleaf
April 18th, 2008, 06:54 PM
Saturday Apr 19 05:36 AEST
The price of "alcopop" drinks favoured by younger drinkers is likely to rise as the federal government fights the youth binge-drinking epidemic, according to a report.
News Ltd newspapers say the cost of a case of spirit-based pre-mixed drinks such as Bacardi Breezer, Smirnoff Ice and Jim Beam and Cola, would rise by up to $15 a case, restoring the "cost barrier" that the Howard government removed.
News Ltd says the idea has the support of the medical fraternity, with doctors worried by the damage being done by a category of drinks they say has allowed more kids to get more drunk over the past decade.
The budget measure - believed to have the support of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Health Minister Nicola Roxon - would reverse the price drop brought about by the introduction of the GST in 2000.
While the price of premium beer rose slightly, alcopops fell by 20 per cent, leading to an explosion in their consumption.
©AAP 2008
The price of "alcopop" drinks favoured by younger drinkers is likely to rise as the federal government fights the youth binge-drinking epidemic, according to a report.
News Ltd newspapers say the cost of a case of spirit-based pre-mixed drinks such as Bacardi Breezer, Smirnoff Ice and Jim Beam and Cola, would rise by up to $15 a case, restoring the "cost barrier" that the Howard government removed.
News Ltd says the idea has the support of the medical fraternity, with doctors worried by the damage being done by a category of drinks they say has allowed more kids to get more drunk over the past decade.
The budget measure - believed to have the support of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Health Minister Nicola Roxon - would reverse the price drop brought about by the introduction of the GST in 2000.
While the price of premium beer rose slightly, alcopops fell by 20 per cent, leading to an explosion in their consumption.
©AAP 2008