BOOZE TAX TO TARGET LOUTS.THE Tories yesterday vowed to dramatically increase duty on alcopops, strong beers and cider if they win power. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling Christopher Stephen Grayling (born April 1, 1962) British politician. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell and the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Early life Chris Grayling was born in London and grew up in Buckinghamshire. claimed the action was needed to curb binge-drinking and booze-fuelled violence. He also vowed to stop supermarkets selling discounted booze and close down problem pubs and takeaways. The crackdown would see duty on alcopops treble, with the price of a four pack of strong lager rising by around pounds 1.33. Mr Grayling grayling, common name for a brilliantly colored fish belonging to the genus Thymallus, of the family Salmonidae (salmon family), and closely allied to the smelt. Graylings are found chiefly in clear, cold, fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere. told the conference: "These changes will not hit responsible drinkers. The ordinary pint in the pub will not be affected. "And there will be exemptions for some local traditional products. "But we'll call time on the drinks that fuel anti-social behaviour." Mr Grayling said the drinks industry was bound to protest but insisted the measures would stop town centres being turned into weekend battle zones. He added: "I think there are times when it's right to put the interests of communities ahead of the interests of business." The measures were condemned by Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association, who accused the Tories of being out of touch. Mr Hastings said: "They need to do a bit more work looking at what bingedrinkers are drinking. Kids are tanking up before they go out and they are not tanking up on strong lager. They are tanking up on cheap vodka." The proposals also put Mr Grayling on collision course collision course n. A course, as of moving objects or opposing philosophies, that will end in a collision or conflict if left unchanged: two planes on a collision course; dissidents on a collision course with the regime. with former Chancellor Ken Clarke, who spoke out against higher booze prices earlier this week. He said: "I don't understand the desire for the state to intrude on Verb 1. intrude on - to intrude upon, infringe, encroach on, violate; "This new colleague invades my territory"; "The neighbors intrude on your privacy" encroach upon, obtrude upon, invade these areas." CAPTION(S): YAWN-FERENCE Snory Tory yesterday |
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