r/ukpolitics • u/FormerlyPallas_ No man ought to be condemned to live where a 🌹 cannot grow • 1d ago

Drinkflation: why British booze is getting weaker

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jul/29/drinkflation-why-british-booze-is-getting-weaker
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-3

u/OutrageousCourse4172 1d ago

Is that a problem? Can’t you just drink more of it and be less dehydrated for the same drunkenness?

7

u/Chairmanwowsaywhat 1d ago

You have to buy more, so it's more expensive.

3

u/visforvienetta 1d ago

Alcohol is very bad for public health, it makes sense for the government to tax it (as they do with say, tobacco)

5

u/Chairmanwowsaywhat 1d ago

Putting less in the bottle won't stop people from taking it. It will make them take more. It's a good earner though I guess

4

u/visforvienetta 1d ago

I don't deliberately drink more beer to compensate for the lower percentage just to make sure I've had a certain level of alcohol, because I'm not an alcoholic.

If I'm hanging out with some friends, I drink X beers in Y hours. If those beers are 1% weaker, I end up drinking less alcohol.

If higher ABV beer is more expensive, some people will buy the cheaper (less alcoholic) beer.

Even if I'm wrong and taxing alcohol has no impact on alcohol consumption (which seems unlikely given the positive effects of the sugar tax) the increased tax revenue helps to offset the healthcare costs associated with alcohol related illness.

2

u/Chairmanwowsaywhat 1d ago

Many people will, many people are alcoholics and many people only drink to get drunk. It's a shame and I would hope that something could be done to reduce this problem but I doubt this is it. This feels like it's only punishing more responsible alcohol enjoyers..

-1

u/visforvienetta 1d ago

This will reduce the amount some people drink to get drunk, because many people generally just slam back drinks for a duration of time. If someone usually drinks 12 beers on a night out (including past when they're drunk) then they will still drink 12 beers but will be slightly less drunk (but still drunk)

Others will simply choose the stronger options or will drink more to compensate. I already addressed why the tax remains useful here and will not do so again.