www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Makers of so-called „alcopop“ drinks have apparently dodged a tax hike in California by reformulating their products so that they will continue to be taxed like beer, not liquor. A three-year advocacy effort resulted in California reclassifying alcopops as liquor, which would have seen the drinks taxed at $3.30 per gallon instead of the beer rate of 20 cents per gallon. State lawmakers also approved a bill that required the drinks to carry a large label stating that they contain alcohol. (Source: Join Together, 1/16/09)
Comment: In Switzerland the alcopop producers eluded the special alcopop tax by reducing the sugar content. But the taste is not the same anymore and the sales dropped by 75%. Now the flavored malt beverages are the main drinks of young people next to beer. Before alcopops were based on fruit flavours and spirits. There should be a general alcohol tax on all kind of beverages according to the alcohol content and the danger for youth. Deutsche Webseite: Alkoholindustrie