LettersGovernment must manage the consequences of cutting liquor tax
Readers discuss the government’s responsibility to citizens in reducing liquor tax and the penalties being imposed for plastic cutlery
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification
While the government’s intentions are noble – with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu citing the example of the 2008 duty exemption for wines and providing statistics on the growth of the wine trading industry in Hong Kong – the picture is incomplete without considering the impact on local wine consumption, ailments related to increased alcohol consumption, and resulting pressure on the medical system and cost burden on government coffers.
I fully support the government in trying to exploit a business opportunity; however, it is also the government’s responsibility to raise public awareness about the risks associated with alcohol consumption. A warning label on spirits sold locally, like that on tobacco products, would be a good start.