Clause 3
Finance (No. 2) Bill
5:15 pm
Colin Breed (Shadow Minister, Treasury; South East Cornwall, Liberal Democrat)
In a similar vein, the explanatory notes say that since 1997 the duty on beer has fallen by 6 per cent. in real terms. That is not a huge amount, but it is a fall in real terms. Yet during that period we have seen clear evidence that alcohol, particularly beer, plays a large part in some of the antisocial behaviour, not least binge drinking, that we experience from time to time.
We have recently seen a relaxation of the licensing laws and availability in terms of cost and access has increased. It would not be surprising if we saw more antisocial behaviour, let alone the health problems that the hon. Member for Ludlow described.
We have spent a lot of time discussing the smuggling of tobacco but have not mentioned the considerable amount of beer that is imported during trips to hypermarkets on the continent. The brewery industry is probably right to be concerned about the amount of beer that is being imported in that way.
Overall, there is a case for not objecting because I think the increase is correct, but we should recognise some of the dangers of alcohol, particularly among young people, and recognise that price is a driver, as it is in other areas. The Government should at least look at the overall duty on beer not just as a revenue-raising exercise but as a contribution to health and reducing some of the antisocial behaviour that emanates from the consumption of large quantities of alcohol.