New Zealanders are evenly divided over whether the price of alcohol should be increased to discourage drinking, a move already ruled out by the Government.

A Law Commission report last week recommended a 50 per cent rise in excise tax, to push up the price of alcohol by 10 per cent, as one of a package of measures aimed at discouraging binge-drinking and curbing anti-social behaviour.

Justice Minister Simon Power and Prime Minister John Key were quick to rule out a tax rise on alcohol, though they swiftly increased taxes on tobacco last week by 10 per cent, with two more increases of 10 per cent in the next two years.

However, a Fairfax Media survey of readers last week found they were divided over the wisdom of increasing alcohol tax. Of the 1445 people surveyed, 48 per cent agreed alcohol prices should go up by 10 per cent. The same proportion disagreed.

There was stronger support for a rise shown by readers of The Press (56 per cent) than by The Dominion Post (46 per cent). Readers of The Waikato Times were in between, with 48 per cent in favour.

Comments made with the survey showed a near-universal acceptance that there is an alcohol problem - largely youth-related - and that it is putting a big burden on society.

Sample comments by readers included:

Raising the age and tax doesn't go far enough. Alcohol is so readily available in supermarkets and will still be a loss leader for them and will still be cheap.

I think people over 20 should not be penalised for the actions of the under 20s by raising the price of alcohol.

At 18 we can marry, vote and die for our country. Can't have a beer? Ridiculous.

Alcohol awareness needs to be taught in schools ... and parents need to be taught how to talk to their kids about drinking and set a good example. Restricting the age limits will only make kids drink illegally at home ... raising prices will affect retailers more than curb drinking habits.

It is the culture of drinking we need to address, rather than taking away the right of 18-year-olds to choose.

(SOURCE: VERNON SMALL - Stuff Retrieved 3rd May 2010 from www.stuff.co.nz)