| ■ UK doctors urge higher taxes on alcohol | 2008.02.26 |
| LONDON - The British Medical Association lobbied Thursday for higher taxes on alcohol, an end to happy hours, and a steep reduction in the permitted blood alcohol-limit for drivers. A report by the group said new laws were needed to combat an epidemic of alcohol misuse that is costing health and law enforcement services billions of dollars a year. It comes at a crucial juncture in the national debate about how to tackle Britain's booze culture — one which has lawmakers re-examining everything from super-size glasses at fancy wine bars to super-cheap ciders at discount supermarkets. British supermarket giant Tesco PLC said Thursday it wanted to work with the government on new laws to ensure what it called the "responsible pricing" of alcohol, something campaigners say shows a consensus is building on how to handle the nation's drinking problem. "As doctors we see first hand how alcohol misuse destroys lives. It causes family breakdowns, is a major factor in domestic violence, ruins job prospects, is often related to crime and disorderly behavior and it kills," said Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, the British Medical Association's head of science and ethics. |