Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) yesterday said he fully supported establishing a set of regulations to curb alcohol abuse, including requiring consumers to pay an “alcohol surcharge” for alcoholic beverages, similar to the tobacco surcharge.
Answering questions at the legislature's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee meeting, Yaung said the department was in the process of drafting a proposed set of laws aimed at preventing alcohol abuse.
Yaung, who said he is a moderate drinker who consumes about a bottle of beer once a week, said that while it is harmless to drink in moderation, excessive drinking drastically increases health risks.
“I'm in full support of charging a health surcharge for alcohol,” he said. “[The DOH] will hold hearings in the future to exchange ideas with the public.”
A health surcharge of NT$20 is currently charged per pack of cigarettes to discourage people from smoking, another habit that poses health risks and increases medical expenses. The surcharge was increased to NT$20 last year from the previous NT$10.
Bureau of National Health officials said that unlike the surcharge for tobacco, which is a flat rate, the surcharge for alcohol may vary depending on alcohol content of the beverage.
However, officials said they would invite experts and academics to discuss the matter to determine the most effective way to prevent alcohol abuse.
“We believe that because the National Health Insurance Act [全民健康保險法] already includes legislation on the health surcharge for tobacco, the public would find it more acceptable if the surcharge for alcohol is designed in a similar manner,” bureau Director-General Chiu Shu-ti (邱淑媞) said.
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