Strategy Unit backs higher alcohol tax

Cabinet Office officials have called for alcohol to be more expensive in order to cut down on violent crime.

The department's Strategy Unit has told the prime minister that increasing taxes on drinks would curb domestic violence and reduce traffic accidents and injuries in the workplace.

A 137-page report, entitled 'Achieving Culture Change: A Policy Framework' was presented to cabinet ministers last month.

The report says: "Alcohol consumption has been shown to be sensitive both to availability and price. Increasing the price of alcohol has the potential to reduce road accidents, work injuries, violent crime and abuse."

Ken Jones, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said earlier this week that young people were drinking cheap alcohol to excess, which is affecting their health and leading them to violent crime.

Meanwhile, Kevin Barron, the Labour chairman of the Commons health committee, has said that ministers should consider increasing the tax on alcohol to stop children drinking to excess.

"In view of the problems Ken Jones and his staff have up and down the land, this is something that ought to be looked at and researched as a way of slowing down this binge drinking," he said.