New alcohol law - Not going to make a blooming difference.

[chem1st]

From 6 April shops and bars will not be able to sell drinks for less than the tax paid on them. This figure works out as 38p for a can of weaker lager and £10.71 for a litre of vodka.

 

But the Newcastle University study, published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, concluded the ban would not have a substantial effect on the overall price sold in shops, because hardly any alcohol is currently sold at such low prices.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-17131232

 

At the end of the day we already have minimum pricing in the form of alcohol duty. And shops don't sell it for less than that, else they would go out of business.

 

Alcohol duty has been forced to increase above inflation (and thus drive inflation too). This has made alcohol more expensive. People now drink less UK duty aid alcohol opting to brew their own or purchase moonshine instead. The biggest fall in drinking has been in 16-24 year olds, they can't afford it!

 

Duty free vodka yields more money than duty free baccy!

 

This new law won't change diddly squat. What the government needs to do is lower the tax on alcohol, perhaps even abolish it completely.

[Alien52]

I don't understand what this has got to do with housing.

[Djgregory]

Actually supermarkets do sell it as a loss on certain brands just to get more shoppers to use there supermarkets. So i think it WILL have a big difference.

[barleycorn]

Actually supermarkets do sell it as a loss on certain brands just to get more shoppers to use there supermarkets. So i think it WILL have a big difference.

 

Supermarket own brand throat stripper vodka sells for about £8.70.

 

 

jb

[epiphany]

Sensible post. Often the regulations politicians bring in have the adverse effect to their intention.

 

Prohibition drove alcohol production underground. It stands to reason that the more difficult we make alcohol to acquire through the regulated market (whether due to price increases or outright bans), the more people will rely on the unregulated market.

 

I agree with the OP, the only sensible solution is to lower, not raise taxes on alcohol. That way, we ensure that alcohol production operates as fully as possible within the regulated marketplace.

[Guest]

Actually supermarkets do sell it as a loss on certain brands just to get more shoppers to use there supermarkets. So i think it WILL have a big difference.

 

This is true, the year before last we got a polypin from Kelham Island Brewery for Christmas, then we worked out that the same beer (Easy Rider) and the same amount would have been cheaper had we gone to Asda and got it in bottles thanks to their offers.

 

So once they put the brewery out of business by selling at a loss and undercutting them, who's beer will they sell I wonder.

[Deltic]

Actually supermarkets do sell it as a loss on certain brands just to get more shoppers to use there supermarkets. So i think it WILL have a big difference.

 

It's apparent you have not understood the law. It refers not to loss leaders which are goods sold at less than the cost to the supermarket to supply, but to alchohol sold at less than the tax paid to HMRC (usually a lower figure even than a loss leader). The link to the bbc makes it clear. HTH

[chem1st]

Supermarket own brand throat stripper vodka sells for about £8.70.

 

 

jb

 

Cheapest is £8.

 

Tax upon it = £6.50

 

It should really be £2.

[shane39]

I don't understand what this has got to do with housing.

 

Hahaha!

I likeee.

[alchresearch]

It's fairly obvious. The new alcohol law will increase in moonshine producers - so they'll rent out terraced houses to do it, much like they do with cannabis factories!