Attempt To Freeze Alcohol Duty

There will be an attempt the freeze duty on alcohol when next year’s Budget is debated by the States next month.

One of a handful of challenges to the Treasury Minister’s plans is to remove Deputy Susie Pinel’s proposed 3.5% duty rise, which would put an extra penny on a pint.

Deputy Scott Wickenden says it’s just another way of getting money from islanders:

“The people of Jersey are pretty much sick and tired of being seen as an open wallet for everything.”

He says using the health argument to raise revenue is unacceptable;

“What we are doing is penalising the majority of islanders who just have a drink after work and drink sensibly to try and affect the minority of people who have a dependency and a problem with alcohol. I don’t think that is the right way of doing it. We should be focusing our efforts somewhere else.”

Other amendments to the 2019 Budget include an attempt to halve the 20% retail tax, change the Income Tax system, review environmental charges and simply the stamp duty structure.

The States will debate the Budget on 4th December.