Government looks to change EU rules to introduce higher alcohol duty levels

Written by Richard Siddle

Thursday, 18 March 2010

The government will look to change EU legislation that would allow it to introduce "higher and more logical levels" of alcohol duty, according to its official response released today to the Health & Select Committee's alcohol report.

The government takes on board many of the committee's recommendations to curb drinking levels in the UK and in particular will look to seek to seek greater freedom in what it can do around duty levels. It states: "The current constraints prevent Member States from making the kind of adjustments to taxation that the Committee seeks, for example to create a greater duty differential between higher and lower strength drinks."

Whilst the government does not commit itself to put in place any specific recommendations it does align itself to the issue of taking further action around areas such as health education, labeling, pricing and a mandatory code of practice.

The government's full response can be found at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmhealth/151/15102.htm