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THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP

Former Minister for Health and Ageing

Alcopops Tax Has Worked

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Victorian results from the 2008 Australian Secondary School Students Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSAD) show that the closure of the alcopops tax loophole has worked, with the proportion of secondary school students who reported drinking in the week before the survey is at its lowest level since the survey began in 1984.

PDF printable version of Alcopops Tax Has Worked (PDF 25 KB)

26 September 2010

Victorian results from the 2008 Australian Secondary School Students Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSAD) show that the closure of the alcopops tax loophole has worked.

The proportion of secondary school students who reported drinking in the week before the survey is at its lowest level since the survey began in 1984.

Comparisons of alcopops consumption before and after the tax loophole was closed have consistently shown a 30% drop in consumption of alcopops and an overall drop in alcohol consumption.

The Government continues to be committed to changing the culture of binge drinking in Australia. Through the $103.5 million National Binge Drinking Strategy, the Government :

  • has rolled out the successful $20m "Don't Turn a Night Out into a Nightmare" campaign which warns young people of some of the consequences of binge drinking
  • is providing $34.4 million over six years to support community and sporting organisations with their own initiatives to change the culture of binge drinking
  • is providing $25 million over four years for a Community Sponsorship Fund to provide an alternative to alcohol sponsorship for local community sporting and cultural organisations
  • is working with states and territories to divert young people who get themselves into trouble with drinking from the justice system into counselling and health care, through the $19.1 million Early Intervention Pilot Program, and
  • is providing $5 million to enhance helplines to assist people with alcohol-related problems.
This is part of a preventive health agenda that includes the establishment of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency which will tackle the key priority areas of alcohol, tobacco and obesity.

The Government intends to introduce legislation to establish the agency later this week.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220

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