Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews

Raising taxes to make all alcohol more expensive is one way to curb Australia's booze problem, a visiting academic says.
Professor Robin Room said alcohol was too cheap and readily available from a public health point of view.

"If you want to seriously do something about alcohol in Australia, then raising taxes is a good way to do it," he said.

"From a public health point of view, the higher the better.

"It's a big problem, alcohol is responsible for a lot of health and social problems."

Prof Room, of the University of Melbourne school of population health, will address Tasmania's first annual conference on alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues in Hobart tomorrow.

Health Minister Lara Giddings opened the conference yesterday, announcing an alcohol action plan would be developed for the state.

She promised strategies to address alcohol consumption and binge drinking, particularly among young people.

"Binge drinking not only harms your health but can also lead to anti-social and dangerous behaviours which can harm others," Ms Giddings said.

"We need to reduce the number of young drinkers developing a lifelong pattern of hazardous drinking and alcohol-related health problems.

"We need to get the message out that drinking in moderation is the way to go."

Prof Room welcomed the Federal Government's decision to raise taxes on pre-mixed drinks, also known an alcopops.

He said regulation and laws worked better than public education campaigns.

"Trying to talk people out of something they enjoy is not a good bet," he said.

But Australian Hotels Association state general manager Steve Old said raising taxes would not address the issue of binge drinking.

However, he agreed binge drinking needed attention.

"We are excited that the minister has announced the development of an action plan on alcohol for our industry in Tasmania," Mr Old said.

"Only last week I wrote to Ms Giddings seeking a meeting on the issue of binge drinking and how we as an industry association in Tasmania would like to work with the Government on solving this problem."

Prof Room, who is also acting director of the Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre in Fitzroy, said alcohol was ingrained in Australian life.

"It's in every part of our life," he said. "Is it possible to flirt and have a good time with each other without being drunk?"

Mercury