Louis Shih wants the government to put health warnings on all liquor bottles. Photo: AFP
Louis Shih speaks to RTHK's Janice Wong
The president of the Hong Kong Medical Association, Louis Shih, on Monday called on the government to reintroduce a wine tax and a tax on beer in the upcoming policy address.
He said this would help tackle what he described "a drinking problem among young people in the city". Shih said a recent study by the Department of Health had shown that binge drinking is a problem among the youth in Hong Kong.
While he refused to say how high the tax should be, Shih said alcohol would be less accessible to youngsters if the tax is high.
The wine duty was abolished by the government in 2008 to promote the wine trade and develop the local catering industry.
Shih also said warning labels on alcoholic drinks should be made compulsory. He told RTHK's Janice Wong that they would help lower deaths from alcohol related diseases.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1230959-20151221.htm
