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Double price of alcohol, say expertsTuesday 03 March 2009 The tax on alcohol should be doubled to discourage under-age drinking, according to a group of experts in Tuesday's AD. The move would also save billions of euros as the damage caused by drunken teenagers declined, says the paper. The call comes from the alcohol prevention foundation Stap, criminologist Jan van Dijk and paediatrician Nico van der Lely, who say it is time for drastic measures. They say the soft approach of the past 20 years has not worked and the only option is to raise the price of alcohol. The Netherlands has been wrestling the problem of teenage drinking in recent years. Last December new figures from the national statistics office CBS showed that Dutch teenagers are now drinking less. The number of teens who use alcohol fell from 85% in 2003 to 79% in 2007. This is 'probably' due to the need to prove you are at least 16 when buying alcohol, said CBS researcher Jan Latten. © DutchNews.nl
By Alex Baldal | March 3, 2009 7:08 PM It is mad teenager drinking is not allowed.I have been drinking SENSIBLY since i was 12 (wine, beer) and when i went to uni i was not getting drunk like an animnal as british students do.As for Taxes on alcohol..thanks god germany is close By nikokons | March 4, 2009 12:02 AM The drinking problem in the UK is not just teenagers. The majority of drinkers in the UK have no idea how to limit their drinking. By Darren | March 4, 2009 7:07 AM Whilst doubling the price of alcohol may in some instances reduce consumption, there is the danger of an unintended consequence and that is those who cannot afford it, but are heavy or dependent drinkers, could resort to crime in order to fund their habit, as is the case with other drugs. However, that in itself is not a reason why other drugs should be legalised because to do so would result in increased availability, as is the case with alcohol, followed by subsequent wide spread, and possibly epidemic use. By Peter O'Loughlin | March 4, 2009 12:00 PM Here in the West, our governments continue to (over) tax not so much alcohol, but our social lives. Alcohol = bar = socializing = too expensive = stay at home. There are however many other countries where alcohol is not heavily taxed. The people from these other countries have a more relaxed social life, seeing as they can afford to go out and meet each other without making themselves broke. Over taxing alcohol is actually nothing more than stealing... By P.I.Staker | March 5, 2009 9:42 AM Alcohol, cannabis and other recreational drugs destroy the ability of youth to function better in life. I am still battling the effects of my youthful habits at the age of 40 yrs of age. If any Dutch organisation wants me to talk to young people, I will. I no longer drink or do drugs and have been clean for a long time now, but neurological effects can be long lasting. Tax will not help at all...people will always find money for drugs. By M | March 6, 2009 12:03 PM
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Perhaps Jan van Dijk and Nico van Lely would like to look at the U.K. model. The highest alcohol taxes in the western world and still we get unruly young drunks. So increasing taxes will help the Dutch government, will punish those sensible drinkers but won't stop drunken teenagers.
Enforce the laws you already have more severely, but do not go down the UK's path, as it has proven it does not work.
By Karl H | March 3, 2009 1:06 PM