Booze blitz: alcopop tax lifted by 70%
Josh Gordon & Dan Harrison; 27/4/08
Federal taxes on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks were increased without warning at midnight last night by 70% under a Rudd Government plan to fund a new preventive health program and tackle binge-drinking among teenagers, particularly girls. The tax hike — the first for the Labor Government — is expected to raise more than $2 billion in extra revenue over the next four years. A senior Government source last night confirmed that part of the windfall would be used to fund Australia’s largest ever investment in preventive health, focusing on alcohol, smoking, diet and exercise.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/alcopop-tax-lifted-by-70/2008/04/27/1208743339515.html
Alcohol abuse putting teenage girls at risk
Dan Harrison & Josh Gordon; 27/4/08
Teenage girls are more than three times as likely as boys to drink alcohol at least once a week and are more at risk of the harmful effects of binge drinking than their male peers. A study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that despite a slight drop in the rate of teenage girls’ alcohol abuse, they are still more susceptible to harm from alcohol than teenage boys. It follows growing concern about binge drinking and alcohol-related violence, with experts at last weekend’s 2020 Summit urging the Government to fund prevention programs.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/alcohol-abuse-putting-teenage-girls-at-risk/2008/04/26/1208743326632.html
Alcohol, tobacco use falls: report
26/4/08
The use of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs has fallen, but the attitudes of teenagers towards alcohol remain worrying, according to a new report. The 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, undertaken by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), shows tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs use all fell between 2004 and 2007. But AIHW spokesman Mark Cooper-Stanbury said the report raised concerns about Australia’s young people. “Around one quarter of teenagers put themselves at risk of alcohol-related harm at least once a month,” he said.
See: http://news.theage.com.au/alcohol-tobacco-use-falls-report/20080427-28r9.html
Tags: Australia, Drugs, Report, Violence, Young People