Cllr David Cox, of Bridge Road, Shaldon, writes:

Ashley Fox, MEP, in the paper of April 2 was robust in his denunciation of the tax on cider and the possible curbs on Buckfast Tonic Wine by Labour.

Mr Fox has stated: 'In both cases the argument is that alcohol fuelled yobs cause trouble in their communities and by either banning a drink or making it more expensive this will miraculously stop the trouble. Yet to target specific drinks for extra tax or regulation will do nothing to stop this kind of behaviour.'

Mr Fox seems blissfully unaware that taxing specific drinks in the hope of miraculously stopping trouble is precisely the approach Conservative shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling has adopted, including taxing craft cider according to the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM). Because when this Labour government implements a really stupid policy, you can be sure they got the idea from the Conservatives.

The cider industry reacted with dismay to the Conservatives' own version of the cider tax, when it was announced by Chris Grayling at their conference in 2009. The chairman of the NACM, Henry Chevallier, said of the Conservative proposals: 'Targeting certain drinks and seeking to reduce the consumption of those drinks through duty or price alone will not work. The reality is that we will not reduce the number of people who misuse alcohol – the evidence is that consumption will be displaced to other forms of alcohol or illegal drugs.'

Mr Chevallier dismissed Conservatives' claims that their cider tax was only intended to hit 'super strength' ciders like White Lightning; saying: 'The products above the (Conservatives) so called "super strength" threshold include nearly all the premium and artisan ciders produced by smaller scale producers. These products are generally sold at a price premium in excess of 25 per cent and no-one can sensibly suggest they represent "problem drinks" so where is the logic in doubling the duty on them – it hits consumers who want to enjoy a quality product of local provenance and it damages the many small businesses trying to make a living.

'This will add risk and adversely affect rural jobs.'

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