News Service from House Harris

Fed: Health groups applaud govt anti-binge drinking campaign

CANBERRA, Nov 21 AAP - A shock advertising campaign aimed at fighting teenage binge drinking must be accompanied by tougher licensing laws and an overhaul of alcohol taxation, health groups say.

Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation chief executive Daryl Smeaton applauded the length of the government's20 million campaign and said he hoped it would be extended beyond its two-year time frame.

He said the campaign was a welcome first step in the fight against binge drinking but the government must stop "pussyfooting around" about licensing.

Mr Smeaton said pubs and clubs should stop serving alcohol at midnight.

"We don't just need lock-outs we need wholesale changes to trading hours, we need reductions in the number of outlets," he said.

While Mr Smeaton believes the government's 70 per cent alcopop tax hike hasachieved a dramatic drop in sales of the colourful drinks, he said that was not enough.

A volumetric tax - whereby beverages are taxed according to their alcohol content rather than their type - was the right way to go, he said.

"They are the distortions of the alcohol taxation system that we need to fix."

The Australian Drug Foundation's Geoff Munro said the government's campaignwas not encouraging people not to drink, but to scale consumption back to avoid unwanted consequences.

"Schoolies is a risky time for school leavers and the festive season is notfar way," he said.

"Young people have every right to party and celebrate milestones, but too many young men and women are victims of assault by people who drink too muchand get out of control."

AAP mjkmsldj =0A