June 12, 2008
Alcopops' prices have been deliberately kept low to encourage responsible drinking, hoteliers have told a Senate inquiry.
The federal government raised the tax on the ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in April, saying it would help curb binge drinking among young people.
But Australian Hotels Association (AHA) national affairs director Bill Healey says the government is wrong.
He told a Senate inquiry into the tax hike, the drinks have measured levels of alcohol and their lower price is an incentive for people to drink RTDs instead of buying bottles of spirits.
. . . . . . .
_________________________________________________________________