Referring to this story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7090864.stm

How can a big group of 24 leading health organisations come to the conclusion that by increasing tax on alcohol by 10% you could reduce alcohol related deaths by up to 30%? That just wouldn't happen. Cigarettes are the prime example. Doesn't matter what price they are, people still buy them.

I especially like this quote, "Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the Health Alcohol Alliance, said it was time to treat alcohol in a similar way to drugs."

I'm sorry, but taxing something by 10% (a pint going from £2 to £2.20) isn't quite the same as making it illegal. Their argument for wanting to reduce alcohol deaths is strong and I'd imagine most of the country is behind them. But then they come out with a statement that a 10% tax increase will solve the problem. Sorry, but that's where they look like they haven't got a clue to me.

Totally agree.

With that logic, increasing the tax on fuel would reduce road casulties. Why not slap a 10% tax on food to reduce obesity!

It is naive to say that increasing the price of somethings will reduce consumption. A few months ago the price of a pint in a local pub I sometimes frequent was £2. It's now £2.20 but I'll still be popping in for couple as usual.