The Government should rule out the
mental health inquiry’s recommendation [1] to hike
regressive alcohol excise taxes, says the New Zealand
Taxpayers’ Union.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesman
Louis Houlbrooke says, “With both the Tax Working Group
and the Government’s mental health inquiry recommending
changes to alcohol excise taxes, the 80 percent of adult New
Zealanders who enjoy a drink ought to be concerned.”
“Like tax on fuel and tobacco, alcohol excise has a
disproportionate impact on the budgets of low-income New
Zealanders, leaving less money for food on the table.”
“The Government’s focus should be on improving
mental health and addiction services. Those who push for
excise tax hikes may intend to help addicts, but in
practice, addicts respond the least to changes in price,
while responsible drinkers are also hit hard. Making addicts
and their families poorer may actually harm their mental
health.”
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