Alcopop tax fails to curb teenage drinkers

[The Straight Story]

Alcopop tax fails to curb teenage drinkers

THE contentious tax on alcopops has failed to influence teenage drinkers and done nothing to curb binge drinking, according to the first survey of underage alcohol use since the federal government introduced the excise hike.

A Victorian government three-yearly survey of high school students shows the tax faltered on two fronts: pre-mixed sugary alcoholic drinks have become even more popular among the young, and the tax's main targets, teenage girls, increased their risky drinking, with one public health expert describing the female drinking trend as ''an absolute disaster''.

In May, official data showed a big post-tax decline in alcopops, prompting speculation that young people might be replacing premixed drinks with other alcohol. But, for the first time, the Victorian schools survey found evidence that underage drinkers have stuck with alcopops - partly because the tax fails to influence parents, the main source of teenagers' alcohol.
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The Health Department's 2008 survey, which asked 4224 private, Catholic and government school students about their alcohol use, found risky underage drinking continued unabated. But it did reveal some significant changes. The overall number of teenagers drinking alcohol turned sharply downwards.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/alcopop-tax-fails-to-curb-teenage-drinkers-20100925-15rnz.html

[SoCalDem]

1. Young people are always curious about taboos, and taxing them does not stop them

They'll just take a $20 from Mom's wallet, instead of a $5.:(

[Cal Carpenter]

2. is there a comparable beverage to this 'alcopop' stuff here in the states?

Is this like those hard lemonade/wine cooler kind of things? Or is this real liquor with a mixer in a can or something?

Just curious. I've heard the term before but I'm not clear, even from the article, if it's anything I'm familiar with.

[AlabamaLibrul]

3. That'd be Smirnoff Ice / hard lemonade / etc. Alcopop is the sort of generic name for that.

Sugary, malt alcoholic drinks.

[Cal Carpenter]

5. Okay, thanks. Well there's a built-in tax with that stuff anyway

Two sips is like an instant hangover, it's sickly sweet. I don't know how people drink the stuff! (of course this is from someone who mostly drinks scotch on the rocks).

It is interesting to read about teen drinking issues in countries where it's legal.

[endless october]

4. sparks / energy alcohol beverages

sin taxes are bullshit.

[Puregonzo1188]

6. Is anyone really surprised?