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WSTA: Tax on alcohol could alienate middle-classes

Published:  23 July, 2008

Significantly raising taxes on alcohol could alienate middle-class voters.

This is the verdict of Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) following reports the Government is considering 25% tax increases on alcohol next year.

Figures produced by market research firm Wine Intelligence - after a survey of 1011 people - discovered that 74% of regular UK wine drinkers already consider taxes to be too high.

In contrast, just 5% of those questioned said they felt alcohol taxes were currently too low.

Jeremy Beadles, WSTA Chief Executive, commented: "The public don't want tax rises on alcohol full stop and the Government risks alienating swathes of middle-class voters if they go ahead anyway."

Some 92% of respondents said 24-hour drinking legislation had not made them anymore likely to visit pubs and bars with greater frequency.

"People are right to want to reduce problem drinking but we have to act on real evidence," Beadles added.

Some 31% of people surveyed indicated that significant tax increases on wine and spirits - 25p / bottle of wine or 50p / bottle of spirits - would see them travel abroad more for product purchases.

Like this article? Then click here for our discussion topic on the pricing debate.

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