The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Australia's system of taxing alcohol is 'incoherent', but our research suggests a single tax rate isn't the answer

  • Written by Ou Yang, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne
Australia's system of taxing alcohol is 'incoherent', but our research suggests a single tax rate isn't the answer

The best word to describe the way Australia taxes alcoholic drinks is “incoherent[1]”.

It was the word used by the 2010 Henry Tax Review[2] to describe a system[3] in which some wine effectively faces no alcohol tax[4], expensive wine is taxed heavily and cask wine lightly, beer (but not wine) is taxed by alcohol content, brandy[5] is taxed less than other spirits, and cider[6] is taxed differently to beer.

Industry calculations suggest cask wine is taxed at as little as six cents[7] per standard drink, mid-price wine at 26 cents, bottled beer at 56 cents, and spirits at $1.24.

Australian Distillers Association[8] And yet it is cask wine that is often said to do the most damage[9]. The Henry Review recommended taxing all drinks containing more than a small amount of alcohol at the same rate[10] per unit of alcohol, regardless of type. It was a recommendation backed by specialists in Australia’s tax system[11]. Implicit, and largely unexamined, in these recommendations is the assumption that alcohol does the same damage in whatever form it is taken. Our new study[12], linking drinkers’ risky behaviours to the types of alcoholic beverages they mostly consume, finds this isn’t so. Using data from six waves of an Australian recreational drug survey[13], we find that regular-strength beer and pre-mixed spirits in a can rank among the highest in their links to both drink-driving and hazardous, disturbing or abusive behaviours. Mid-range are mid-strength beer, cask wine, and bottled spirits and liqueurs. At the bottom are low-strength beer and pre-mixed spirits in a bottle, which have the weakest links to risky and abusive behaviours when intoxicated. Probability of drink driving, by age and beverage type RSB = Regular-Strength Beer; LSB = Low-Strength Beer; MSB = Mid-Strength Beer; BW = Bottled Wine; FW = Fortified Wine; CW = Cask Wine; PMSC = Pre-Mixed Spirits in a Can; PMSB = Pre-Mixed Spirits in a Bottle; BS = Bottled Spirits and Liqueurs. Source: Economic Record[14] Some of the relationships vary with the type of damage. While bottled wine is linked to a moderate to high probability of drink-driving, it is also linked to a low probability of hazardous, disturbing or abusive behaviours. Pre-mixed spirits in a bottle are related to a low probability of both drink driving and hazardous, disturbing and abusive behaviours. But when account is taken of the gender of the drinkers (so-called alcopops are typically drunk by females), we find them no longer as safe. Probability of hazardous, disturbing or abusive behaviour RSB = Regular-Strength Beer; LSB = Low-Strength Beer; MSB = Mid-Strength Beer; BW = Bottled Wine; FW = Fortified Wine; CW = Cask Wine; PMSC = Pre-Mixed Spirits in a Can; PMSB = Pre-Mixed Spirits in a Bottle; BS = Bottled Spirits and Liqueurs. Source: Economic Record[15] Our study suggests that Australia’s haphazard system of taxing alcohol might have got some things right. Beer, which is typically taxed more highly than wine, seems to do more damage. But it has got some things wrong. Cask wine appears to be significantly undertaxed relative to the damage it does. More broadly, our findings suggest that if alcohol is to be taxed according to the damage it does, the tax system we adopt will need to be more complicated than a single rate for every unit of alcohol regardless of the form in which it comes. References^ incoherent (cdn.theconversation.com)^ Henry Tax Review (cdn.theconversation.com)^ system (www.aph.gov.au)^ no alcohol tax (www.ato.gov.au)^ brandy (www.thespiritsbusiness.com)^ cider (www.cideraustralia.org.au)^ six cents (australiandistillers.org.au)^ Australian Distillers Association (australiandistillers.org.au)^ do the most damage (www.news.com.au)^ same rate (cdn.theconversation.com)^ Australia’s tax system (doi.org)^ new study (doi.org)^ Australian recreational drug survey (www.aihw.gov.au)^ Source: Economic Record (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)^ Source: Economic Record (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/australias-system-of-taxing-alcohol-is-incoherent-but-our-research-suggests-a-single-tax-rate-isnt-the-answer-195907

Times Magazine

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an online presence that reflects your brand, engages your audience, and drives results. For local businesses in the Blue Mountains, a well-designed website a...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beauty On Saturday, September 6th, history will be made as the International Polo Tour (IPT), a sports leader headquartered here in South Florida...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data analytics processes. The sheer volume and complexity of data can be overwhelming, often leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Enter the innovative da...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right choice keeps your team productive, your data safe, and your budget predictable. The wrong choice shows up as slow tickets, surprise bills, and risky sh...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

The Times Features

From Garden to Gift: Why Roses Make the Perfect Present

Think back to the last time you gave or received flowers. Chances are, roses were part of the bunch, or maybe they were the whole bunch.   Roses tend to leave an impression. Even ...

Do I have insomnia? 5 reasons why you might not

Even a single night of sleep trouble can feel distressing and lonely. You toss and turn, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how you’ll cope tomorrow. No wonder many people star...

Wedding Photography Trends You Need to Know (Before You Regret Your Album)

Your wedding album should be a timeless keepsake, not something you cringe at years later. Trends may come and go, but choosing the right wedding photography approach ensures your ...

Can you say no to your doctor using an AI scribe?

Doctors’ offices were once private. But increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) scribes (also known as digital scribes) are listening in. These tools can record and trans...

There’s a new vaccine for pneumococcal disease in Australia. Here’s what to know

The Australian government announced last week there’s a new vaccine[1] for pneumococcal disease on the National Immunisation Program for all children. This vaccine replaces pr...

What Makes a Small Group Tour of Italy So Memorable?

Traveling to Italy is on almost every bucket list. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the sparkling canals of Venice, the country is filled with sights, flavors, and experiences ...