www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) sieht sich gezwungen, etwa 300 Mitarbeiter zu entlassen. Das geht aus dem Bericht hervor, den WHO-Generaldirektorin Margaret Chan diese Woche in Genf auf der Jahresversammlung der Organisation unterbreitet hat.
Aus den Dokumenten geht hervor, dass auf Antrag der massgeblichen Regierungen das Budget bis 2013 um mindestens eine halbe Milliarde Dollar gekürzt werden muss. Chan macht dafür die Wirtschaftskrise in zahlreichen Ländern und den Wertverlust des Dollars verantwortlich. »Wir erhalten unsere Mittel in Dollar und bezahlen unsere Angestellten in Schweizer Franken«, erklärte sie.
Am Freitag verabschiedete die bis zum 24. Mai dauernde Weltgesundheitskonferenz das Budget für 2012 und 2013. Danach stehen der Organisation in den nächsten zwei Jahren nur mehr 3,958.979.000 Dollar zur Verfügung. … (Quelle: Journal21.ch, 21.5.11)

Lawmakers have been weighing whether to raise the tax on alcoholic beverages since the first day of this year’s legislative session. But the idea is getting a fresh look in recent weeks — with a twist.
Health advocates recently learned that DC imposes a „special sales tax“ on alcohol, charging an extra 3-4 percent on top of the regular 6 percent sales tax rate. Maryland, they argue, should follow the District’s lead and develop its own special sales tax for alcohol.
The new proposal comes as the General Assembly is getting into the nitty gritty of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $14 billion general fund budget. Revenue increases are considered separately from the budget, but they generally go hand in hand. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/18/11) weblogs.baltimoresun.com, 03/17/11 our Online-Comment: Alcohol taxes should be seen in relation to the damage and harm alcoholic beverages produce in society. Alcohol taxes should be high enough to reduce general consumption. This would reduce also the tribute we pay a life long without being asked for alcohol related social costs. The profit goes to the alcohol industry.

A report by economic experts Oxford Economics shows that 980,000 jobs in the UK depend on the beer and pub trade. The report was commissioned by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), who in a press release said the figures will fuel concerns over plans for huge beer tax hikes in the Budget this month. BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds said: „These figures show how vital the beer and pub trade is to the UK economy, with huge numbers of jobs dependent on the sector.“ Highlighting expected duty rises in the forthcoming budget, Simmonds called for a freeze in beer duty. Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 03/02/11) beerandpub.com, 02/16/11