Alcohol evidence and policy: Alternative tax strategy is possible

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7449.1202-c

BMJ 2004;328:1202-1203 (15 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7449.1202-c

Letter

Alcohol evidence and policy

Alternative tax strategy is possible

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EDITOR—Plant discussed the alcohol harm reduction strategyfor England.¹ Large tax increases may be politically unacceptable,but who could cavil at a progressive application of tax accordingto the amount of alcohol in the purchased item?

If alcohol were taxed at so many pence per gram (instead ofper pint or bottle, as at present), then consumers could choosemore readily between inexpensive low alcohol drinks and priceyhigh alcohol items. The price mechanism, which is known to work,would be used and a modicum of consumer education would takeplace with every visit to the bar or off-licence.

Analogous arguments apply to energy taxation policy—ifenergy were uniformly taxed at so many pence per kwh contained(whether the fuel be solid, liquid, gaseous, or electric current)then the true cost of our energy exploiting lives would becomeapparent and behaviour would change—rapidly.

Steven Ford, general practitioner principal

Haydon and Allen Valleys Medical Practice, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland NE47 6LA sford-hb@dircon.co.uk

Competing interests: None declared.