Doctor's welcome alchohol tax rise

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Doctors gave their strong backing to increases in alcohol duty announced in the Budget saying that "tough action" was needed to tackle the culture of binge drinking.

But the rise in duty on beer was attacked by representatives of the brewing industry who said the move would lead to a fall in beer sales and pub closures.

From midnight on Sunday, alcohol duty rates will increase by 6% above the rate of inflation with beer rising by 4p a pint, cider by 3p a litre, wine by 14p a bottle and spirits by 55p a bottle.

Alcohol duties will increase by 2% above the rate of inflation in each of the next four years, Chancellor Alistair Darling announced.

The rise in duty on spirits come after it was frozen last year for the 10th Budget in a row.

Mr Darling said the rises came in the wake of figures showing that in 1997, the average bottle of wine bought in a supermarket was £4.45 in today's prices. He said in a supermarket, the average bottle of wine will cost about £4.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, British Medical Association (BMA) head of science and ethics, said tough action was needed to tackle the UK's binge drinking problem.

She said: "It is very important that tax increases on alcohol are part of a larger plan to reduce problem drinking. The evidence tells us that the cheaper and more accessible alcohol is the more people will drink."

"The Government needs to tackle this issue so it's good news that ministers have made a start today. These tax increases may be unpopular with some members of the public but we hope that they will look at the wider issue and recognise that the UK has a real problem on its hands regarding alcohol misuse."

But Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said: "The millions of people who enjoy beer have just been hit by a £50.5 million a month tax raid on their family budgets. By aiming a tax hike at beer, the Chancellor is shooting himself in the foot. Treasury revenues will continue to fall, pubs will continue to close and beer sales sink further."