Comments on: You’re Gonna Pay! http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/12/youre-gonna-pay/ Liquid Refreshment Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:30:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: David McDuff http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/12/youre-gonna-pay/#comment-3419 David McDuff Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:59:50 +0000 http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/12/youre-gonna-pay/#comment-3419 What's the logic for the higher tax on sparkling wines? I hope it's not simply that they're perceived as goods of greater luxury. What’s the logic for the higher tax on sparkling wines? I hope it’s not simply that they’re perceived as goods of greater luxury.

]]> By: jacob gaffney http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/12/youre-gonna-pay/#comment-3420 jacob gaffney Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:30:10 +0000 http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/12/youre-gonna-pay/#comment-3420 The wording of the Budget does not include an explanation, leaving us to only guess at the logic. I would suspect it's because sales of Champagne are set to soar in the UK in the next few years. The wording of the Budget does not include an explanation, leaving us to only guess at the logic. I would suspect it’s because sales of Champagne are set to soar in the UK in the next few years.

]]> By: Sean http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/12/youre-gonna-pay/#comment-3426 Sean Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:08:47 +0000 http://www.interwined.com/2008/03/12/youre-gonna-pay/#comment-3426 My problem with the announcement on alcohol taxes is a straight-forward one. The government hates the carrot, but loves the stick. While I think that it’s fair to say that the chancellor is suggesting the alcohol tax increases as some form of behavioural modifier (“Increase the tax on alcohol to discourage alcohol consumption”) that should be applauded by those concerned with the health of the nation the way environmentalists might applaud his comments and threats on plastic bags, I also think that it’s fair to call this suggestion simple spin-doctoring. If the government really wanted a behavioural modifier to help overcome the proliferation of binge drinking among Britons and its myriad after-effects, it would seek changes in the law to prevent supermarkets from placing alcohol on special and it at rates well below market value (£7 for a 24 case of beer, for instance) and/or ear-mark the existing tax money for medical treatment and research. My problem with the announcement on alcohol taxes is a straight-forward one. The government hates the carrot, but loves the stick.

While I think that it’s fair to say that the chancellor is suggesting the alcohol tax increases as some form of behavioural modifier (“Increase the tax on alcohol to discourage alcohol consumption”) that should be applauded by those concerned with the health of the nation the way environmentalists might applaud his comments and threats on plastic bags, I also think that it’s fair to call this suggestion simple spin-doctoring. If the government really wanted a behavioural modifier to help overcome the proliferation of binge drinking among Britons and its myriad after-effects, it would seek changes in the law to prevent supermarkets from placing alcohol on special and it at rates well below market value (£7 for a 24 case of beer, for instance) and/or ear-mark the existing tax money for medical treatment and research.

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