Rectub: That link to Hansard above failed, but if your interested in Katters question, roam around that site under Aboriginal affairs, yesterdays date. it'l pop up. I think its pretty telling! Much to Katters annoyance Macklin evaded the question with a Motherhood statement as a response; Is that a surprise?

Try this...

http://www.openaustralia.org/debates/?id=2013-03-12.35.1&s=speaker%3A10352#g35.2

No one has mentioned the pushers. The legalised drug dealers called the alcohol industry.

The AHA has the same mindset as the tobacco industry and is using the same lies and dirty tricks to blame everyone but their patrons the pushers.

Funny how alcohol has been around forever but only recently have we seen this explosion of drunkeness and violence on our city streets. The correlation between that and the rise of uber marketed alcohol and the excessive availability of booze, everywhere, all the time, is impossible to miss.

Oh and if they can do it for fags they can do it for grog.

Plain packaging, no advertising and massive taxes.

I wonder how bad it has to get before we act?

Obviously the view of a radically thinking non drinker I would say MiKk.

If we keep punishing decent folk, as a means of controlling rat bags, trouble will brew.

I dont have a problem with tobacco taxes, although plain packaging in my view is another dud, but then just one fag a day is harmful, whereas a few drinks a day is not.

Laws must recognize and respect the rights of law abiding citizens as well.

rehctub - "a few drinks a day" may well be excessive and causing harm - unless the choice is low alcohol beer.

Even then more than 2 cans or stubbies exceeds AMA recommendations of no more than 2 standard drinks daily. That's for males. It's half the amount for females.

Be aware of your own consumption and the long term implications if you are enjoying more than that on an everyday, or near daily basis.

However you obviously have no problems with the price of and tax on tobacco so increases in the cost of alcohol will surely be of no real concern?

Whatever reduces the availability of cheap alcohol reduces consumption levels. Responsible drinkers will be hardly affected. We will still enjoy a stubbie or two with friends over a weekend BBQ or glass of wine with dinner.

The main impact will be on the heavy or binge drinkers.
"User Pay" No problem!