Bottles of wine now 'cheaper than water'

By Carly Crawford

July 4, News.com.au


HEALTH advocates want a mimimum price on alcohol after a major liquor chain started selling wine for just $2 a bottle.

Liquor giant Dan Murphy's promotion means its cleanskins are selling for 25 cents per standard drink.

Health campaigners say grog discounting has gone too far and insist a government-imposed price minimum should be considered.

The Australian Drug Foundation's alcohol director Geoff Munro said heavy drinkers consumed more as prices fell.

"It's not appropriate to treat alcohol as though it belongs in a $2 shop,'' Mr Munro said.

"It's now cheaper than water.''

"This indicates that goverments should explore introducing a minimum price for alcohol.''

Wine has a 13 per cent concentration on average, while alcopops - which have been hit with a controversial new tax - have concentrations of between five and nine per cent.

Mr Munro said cheap drinks encourged excess consumption.

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photo: $2 shop ... Wine is available at bargain basement prices. (News.com.au)