Govt seeks higher tax on `altered` beer

The federal government wants beer and wines that are altered to taste like
ready-to-mix drinks to be taxed at a higher rate.
The federal government has amended a bill that backs its 70 per cent tax hike on
so-called alcopops to change the definition of beer and wine.
The bill, which passed the lower house on Wednesday night, is aimed at curbing binge
drinking.
It was implemented by regulation last April but needs parliament's approval to stand.
If it's not passed, the federal government will be forced to pay back close to $300
million in revenue that has already been collected to the spirits industry.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon said distillers had swamped the market with altered
beer and wine products to try to get around the tax hike.
"We have been forced to do this because of the surprisingly low levels to which the
distillers are prepared to stoop," Ms Roxon told parliament.
The federal opposition opposed the bill saying it was nothing more than a tax binge.
Ms Roxon said the coalition was giving money back to the distillers who were trying
to hook young people on their products.
But opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton said the opposition wants to address
binge drinking properly, not through stunts.
"The fact that the government has been forced to rush in these amendments ...
reflect the fact that this was never a measure to address binge drinking," he told
parliament.
Ms Roxon replied: "Shame, shame on you and your anti-binge drinking strategies."
The bill passed the lower house and will now go to the Senate.