Has your favourite drink been hit with an unfair 70% tax increase?

Fact #1

There has been no significant increase in per capita alcohol consumption to justify this tax increase

Australian per adult alcohol consumption has been steady for the last 15 years and is below levels recorded in the 1970s and 1980s.

Fact #2

Beer and wine continue to dominate the alcohol market, aided by their tax advantage over spirits and RTDs

RTDs comprise only approximately 10% of the alcohol market in Australia.

Fact #3

The bulk of the RTD market is dark
spirit-based

75% of RTDs are dark spirit-based and are preferred by males aged 24 years and older.

Fact #4

Drinkers of RTDs now pay more tax per standard drink than beer, brandy & wine drinkers

Drinkers of RTDs and spirits pay more than twice the tax (excluding GST) paid by drinkers of full-strength beer and 14 times the tax paid by cask wine drinkers (on a per standard drink basis).

Fact #5

Even though RTDs have experienced significant growth in recent years…

…There is no link between RTD growth and underage drinkers at risk from short term harm.

Fact #6

The growth in RTDs has not led to an increase in the number of underage persons drinking at risk of short term harm

Increases in RTD sales have not contributed to higher levels of risky drinking amongst young people.

Fact #7

There has been a reduction in binge drinking by young people since the RTD tax change in 2000

The proportion of young females consuming alcohol at risky or high risk levels has decreased by 27%.