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22-10-2012, 14:40
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The latest report from Chris Snowdon looks like essential reading:
The Treasury is losing as much as £1.2 billion every year to the illegal alcohol industry. A new report, Drinking in the Shadow Economy (http://www.iea.org.uk/sites/default/files/in-the-media/files/Drinking%20in%20the%20Shadow%20Economy_0.pdf), demonstrates how illicit alcohol consumption is becoming a permanent and growing problem due to excessive taxation.
Failing to deal with counterfeit and smuggled alcohol threatens not only public cash, but public health and public order. Counterfeit alcohol can contain potentially life threatening levels of dangerous chemicals, whilst alcohol smuggling is linked to other illegal activities such as drug dealing, violence and money-laundering. High taxes are encouraging the growth of the illicit alcohol market
It is evident that high taxes are causing this boom in the illicit alcohol market. As prices rise, consumers are increasingly turning to the more affordable options available in the shadow economy. Government policy might intend to improve people’s health, but it may be having the opposite effect.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5623537812609722663-2520762305966295562?l=pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com


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