The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) has actually released a statement regarding the proposition by the Commissioner General of Excise to present alcohol at a lower price.The ADIC argues that the proposition aims to increase alcohol consumption among the population by minimizing its cost under the pretense of decreasing unlawful alcohol sales, thereby creating a beneficial circumstance for alcohol companies.The declaration references the World Health Organization (WHO), which promotes for increasing taxes on alcohol and cigarettes as an effective approach for managing consumption.The ADIC supports this position, asserting that raising excise taxes is a clinically validated method to reduce alcohol consumption and lessen brand-new alcohol users.
The WHO and other research institutions have long supported this technique, it said.Alcohol usage has actually been recognized as one of the 4 leading threat factors adding to non-communicable illness (NCDs), which are accountable for 8 out of 10 avoidable deaths worldwide, the declaration said.In Sri Lanka, alcohol consumption claims the lives of 50 people each day, totaling nearly 20,000 deaths yearly, ADIC claims.The ADIC worries that the function of the Commissioner General of Excise and the department must be concentrated on preventing harm brought on by alcohol consumption.
This can be achieved by appropriately gathering alcohol taxes and attending to the illegal alcohol trade, it said.Furthermore, the ADIC gets in touch with the Commissioner General of Excise to identify and eliminate illegally offered alcohol from the market, hold deceitful businessmen responsible, and take proactive actions to avoid such activities in the future, the statement included.