doctors-back-alcohol-duty-hikes money budget2008 Virgin Media

Medical professionals have backed the Chancellor's decision to increase duty on alcohol saying that "tough action" is needed to tackle binge drinking.

But the rise in duty on beer was attacked by representatives of the brewing industry who said the move would lead to a fall in beer sales and pub closures.

From midnight on Sunday, alcohol duty rates will increase by 6 per cent above the rate of inflation with beer going up by 4p a pint, cider by 3p a litre, wine by 14p a bottle and spirits by 55p a bottle.

Alcohol duties will then increase by 2 per cent above the rate of inflation in each of the next four years.

The rise in duty on spirits come after it was frozen last year for the tenth Budget in a row.

Chancellor Alistair Darling said the rises came in the wake of figures showing that in 1997, the average bottle of wine bought in a supermarket was £4.45 in today's prices.

He said in a supermarket today, the average bottle of wine will cost about £4.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, British Medical Association (BMA) head of science and ethics, said tough action was needed to tackle the UK's binge drinking problem.

She said: "It is very important that tax increases on alcohol are part of a larger plan to reduce problem drinking.

"The evidence tells us that the cheaper and more accessible alcohol is the more people will drink.

"The Government needs to tackle this issue so it's good news that ministers have made a start today.

"These tax increases may be unpopular with some members of the public but we hope that they will look at the wider issue and recognise that the UK has a real problem on its hands regarding alcohol misuse."

But Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said: "The millions of people who enjoy beer have just been hit by a £50.5 million a month tax raid on their family budgets.

"By aiming a tax hike at beer, the Chancellor is shooting himself in the foot. Treasury revenues will continue to fall, pubs will continue to close and beer sales sink further."

He added that the Government was punishing "all beer drinkers" rather than tackling the "minority" of drunken hooligans.

Lesley King-Lewis, joint chief executive of the organisation Action on Addiction, said she welcomed the increased tax on alcohol.

She said: "In a society where alcohol can be cheaper than water, where is the incentive to cut back on drinking alcohol excessively?

"Research has shown that many young people and dependent drinkers are more likely to binge-drink with cheap and strong alcohol.

"We know these drinkers are just as responsive to price change as moderate drinkers.

"Action on Addiction welcomes the Government's increased tax on alcohol. Measures that encourage us to consume less beverages with alcohol are vital in reducing harm."

Duty on tobacco is also rising with the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes going up by 11p and a packet of five cigars going up 4p.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.