Health campaigners are calling for a new “booze and fags” tax to be imposed on supermarkets, urging the SNP Government to take action. A coalition of health groups is pushing for a higher business rate on retailers that sell products like alcohol and tobacco, which are considered harmful to health. The move is aimed at generating essential funds for treatment and ultimately saving lives.
The Finance Secretary, Shona Robison, is currently in discussions with opposition parties ahead of the Budget on December 4th. The Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Scotland has written to Robison, requesting a “public health supplement” be levied on retailers selling such products. The alarming statistic that 1,277 deaths in Scotland in 2023 were attributed to alcohol highlights the urgency of the situation.
The Alliance, consisting of twenty-four groups, has estimated that implementing this tax could raise nearly £60 million, with a significant impact on large supermarket chains. Advocates of the tax argue that the cost of health-harming products to society and the economy, particularly on the NHS, is substantial. For instance, treating smoking-related diseases in NHS Scotland alone costs at least £300 million annually.
The proposal for a “polluter pays” levy aims to support initiatives for healthier communities, enhance early detection of diseases, and facilitate smoking cessation programs in deprived areas. The introduction of a Public Health Supplement is seen as a way to ensure that retailers contribute towards mitigating the health and social costs associated with the products they sell.
Laura Mahon from Alcohol Focus Scotland emphasised the need for such a tax to combat the alcohol crisis in Scotland, where alcohol-specific deaths have reached a 15-year high. Pamela Healy OBE of the British Liver Trust stressed the importance of early diagnosis of liver disease, underscoring the potential of the tax to save lives and reduce healthcare costs.
However, Ewan MacDonald-Russell of the Scottish Retail Consortium expressed concerns about additional taxes, highlighting the existing heavy tax burden on retailers. The Scottish Government has indicated its intention to explore the reintroduction of a non-domestic rates Public Health Supplement for large retailers, with the Budget decisions expected to be revealed on December 4th.
In conclusion, the proposal for a “booze and fags” tax on supermarkets to address the health impacts of alcohol and tobacco consumption has sparked a national debate. With Scotland facing significant health challenges related to these products, finding a balance between public health considerations and economic implications will be crucial in shaping future policy decisions.