Call for minimum alcohol price

Young binge drinkers have simply switched to cheaper booze to beat the Federal Government’s controversial “alcopop” tax. New research shows 15 to 29-year-olds have dodged the 70 per cent tax on popular pre-mixed drinks by changing their drink of choice. The University of Queensland study found no significant reduction in binge drinking-related hospital admissions since the tax was introduced in 2008. It has prompted fresh calls for a minimum price on alcohol. And it follows moves this week by the United Kingdom to crack down on cheap alcohol sales, reports News.com.au.