Hmm.. finally a GOOD IDEA! maybe the gov't will reconsider? - doubtful

[Fev]

Cut tax on light booze: Police Commissioner

New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says taxes should be reduced on drinks with lower alcohol content to help curb binge drinking.

The idea is one of several Commissioner Scipione has discussed with his counterparts in other states, territories and New Zealand as they focus on how to curb alcohol-related crime.

The Commissioner backs the Federal Government's plan to increase taxes on alcopops by 70 per cent but has suggested it should also lower the taxes on drinks with a small percentage of alcohol.

"We would believe that would make it more attractive to purchase those alcoholic drinks that have a lower alcohol content," he said.

"I think it's probably important here that we concentrate more on the positives by looking at tax incentives for low-alcohol equivalents."

Commissioner Scipione says he thinks the public would support the idea.

"Communities actually want to see changes in the way we regulate, promote and use alcohol in Australia," he said.

Commissioner Scipione says another idea is to set up places drunks can go to sober up so they do not take up room in police cells.

"This particularly came about as a result of some of the really good work that's going on in the Northern Territory," he said.

"There's an alternative to incarcerating people and that often means that we can simply take somebody that needs to simply get some down time - they haven't committed an offence and they're not yet a victim but it gives them an opportunity to sober up."

Other ideas include discouraging 'vertical drinking', which refers to pubs where there are not enough chairs and people are forced to drink standing up. The Commissioner says that means they drink more.

Australia's police commissioners are also urging a review of licensing laws to consider abolishing happy hours, the drinking of 'shooters' and 24-hour licensing of venues.

http://www.bigpond.com/news/topstori...27/2256926.asp


Yes. Its a good idea! although he's still backing the 70% tax increase on standard mixed drinks....

although regarding his bars policy a better one would be to cancel the drinking of straight spirits and high alchohol content beverages after 12:30am-1am