�The British Medical Association is incorrect to argue that responsible drinkers ar willing to pay more tax on alcohol to deal with the behaviour of an irresponsible minority, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.
In a letter to the BMA's Head of Science and Ethics, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BBPA (British Beer and Pub Association) Chief Executive Rob Hayward points to raw polling that indicates that the public overwhelmingly believes that higher taxes unfairly penalise sensible drinkers and will not significantly reduce binge drink.
Mr Hayward has asked to meet Dr Nathanson to hash out the military issue.
In the letter, Mr Hayward said:
"People wHO drink inebriant need to be fully aware of the damage that buttocks be done to their health by excess. On this our two organisations agree.
"In our view, the British Medical Association is incorrect to press the Government to deter the minority by punishing the majority with higher taxes. That is too the scene of the large legal age of the public, which overwhelmingly rejects your compositor's case for higher taxation."
Mr Hayward pointed to a BBPA-commissioned opinion poll by ComRes which found that:
- 61% of multitude said they would not be willing to pay more tax on alcohol to preclude others from problem imbibing, as against 31% world Health Organization said they would
- 82% of people say that higher taxes unfairly penalize sensible drinkers
- 86% of people say that higher taxes will not significantly reduce orgy drinking
- 60% of multitude opposed recent increases in tax to tackle orgy drinking
- 76% of people see higher taxes as a scourge to traditional pubs
Mr Hayward added: "It is authorise therefore that calls for higher taxes do not have public support on grounds either of blondness or effectiveness. In fact, piling more taxes on beer would drive more than people away from pubs, which rest the safest setting for the social pleasures associated with drunkenness responsibly."
A BMA paper, "Alcohol misapply: tackling the UK epidemic" was published on 21 February 2008. Speaking at its launch, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA's head of ethics and science, is quoted as saying: "There are a large number of people imbibing at a level that can damage their health. Many others, who are not imbibition excessively, would be unforced to pay more to protect public health." [The Times, 22 February 2008]- BMA statement from Feb.
Alcohol duty was increased by 9.1% in the Budget of March 2008 and the Chancellor Alastair Darling announced proposals for an 'escalator' to bestow 2% in a higher place inflation in each of the next four years.
Field make for the opinion research was conducted online by ComRes 'tween 1-4 July, 2008. There were 1052 respondents.
The British Beer and Pub Association is the UK's leading organisation representing the brewing and pub sector. Its members account for 98% of the beer brewed in the UK and possess nearly two thirds of Britain's 58,000 pubs.
British Beer and Pub Association (BPPA)
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