Thursday, July 18, 2013

Should Alcohol Taxes Pay For Mental Health Programs? Do the Math

Improving the Mental Health System

According proper news release that had been dated May 9, 2006, which "Standing Senate Committee On top of Social Affairs, Science and Technology" in Canada recommended the roll-out of a Canadian Mental Health Commission to be responsible for significantly upgrading the Canadian over emotional system. As stated by Senator Michael Kirby, the Chair regarding Committee, "The Senate Committee is focused on improving the range, quality and organization of health and support services called upon by the 1000's Canadians who are living with mental illnesses and behavior. "

Funding The Proposed Change

Based a good extensive three-year study on internal and addiction, the Committee determined could possibly cost $5. 36 billion of the 10-year period for this mind system upgrade. Where will these funds come from? According to the Committee, the revenue will come from raising the excise tax on alcoholic by 5 cents being an drink.

Part of the rationale in connection with 5-cent increase per drink was obviously website raising the needed funds for that proposed changes in the mind system. Another justifying cause for the price increase, but, was the fact enjoy it since each alcoholic drink could prove costly, Canadians will be more probable to drink lower-alcohol products just as beer and wine in lieu of liquor.

Let's Do your data Math

At first glance, this proposal to be able to make sense. Why shouldn't those those that drink help finance a mix that will customers a better mental overall condition system? Why not let those who are part of the "problem" end up part of the "solution"? This logic seems sound if not do the math. Should this be $5. 36 billion is usually help finance the upgraded over emotional system, then how many drinks should really be consumed in a ten-year a chance to reach $5. 36 billion dollars? The answer: 107, 300, 000, 000 drinks. That's 107 billion, 200 million drinks.

To arrive that brings to mind many drinks this is a year, all we have to be doing is divide this mass of by 10 (for the ten-year program) and it follows 10, 720, 000, 000. This is still a huge number that fortunately can be "massaged" a touch more. According to The Continents Factbook website, the population of Canada was demonstrated that they are 33 million people on this 2006. Dividing 10, 720, 000, 000 from 33, 000, 000 leads 325. Putting this in terms that the person can understand, every the cart, woman, and child in Canada must have consume 325 alcoholic drinks per year to get another ten years to finance the brand new mental health system! This means that, these numbers are very unlikely.

More Flaws

The "logic" of a man's proposed mental health laptop or computer also breaks down exhibit your hard work examined more deeply. We'll, why would people drink lower-alcohol products such as beer if the increased excise tax relates to all alcoholic drinks? To help understand this better, let's readily example. Let's say should your average shot in Malaysia currently costs $3. 00 the average beer costs $1. 00. While using proposed price increase, if Joe drinks typically 5 shots per week, his weekly average alcohol expenditure generally $15. 25. When your data numbers are calculated, this concludes to be 1. 7% for over Joe would have spent the actual proposed tax increase. Let's join in a similar exercise with ale. Based on the forecasted price increase, if Pete drinks typically 5 beers per 7 days, his weekly average alcohol expenditure generally $5. 25. When your data numbers are calculated, this concludes to be 5% compared to Pete would have spent over proposed tax increase. The attachment site: since the proposed discount increase affects higher-alcohol cleansers (such as shots) proportionately down below their lower-alcohol counterparts (such and consequently beer), why would Canadians exchange signal of lower-alcohol products?

Alcohol very well as other Mental Health

Another question. What if 1000's Canadians, realizing that drinking alcohol is not good for their "mental delight, " significantly reduce a great alcohol intake or quit drinking drink altogether? Where will price tag come from to offset absence of revenue? In another similar manner, what if a multitude of Canadians who drink alcohol decide that they don't want to pay the more excise tax and, because of, stop drinking alcoholic cocktails? If this happens, are you going to the government get all the money needed to transform the emotional system? In other lyrics, does the Canadian government employ a realistic "plan B" of this major transformation?

A Logical Contradiction

From a unique perspective, isn't it rather ironic those who drink alcoholic beverages makes up the revamped mental workout system? Isn't there a contradiction in logic anywhere between this proposal? Stated distinct, if tens of some of those Canadians have mental illnesses or are enslaved by alcohol or drugs, wouldn't the government planned Canadians to drink LESS alcohol to less the existing alcohol break, alcoholism, and alcohol-related over emotional problems? Yet according for this mental health proposal, from strictly monetary standpoint, it would appear how the Canadian government is banking the entire mental health system upgrade on historical data that firmly suggests that Canadians can quickly drink at their current nicely as higher levels of benefit from.

Budgetary Miscalculations

What happens, we'll, if there are cost overruns to their proposed mental health system? There are, of plan in advance, two "easy" solutions to this problem: increase the excise taxation on each drink and also motivate Canadians to drink yet further alcoholic beverages. Either "solution, in . however, is predicated truth that in order to be able to "work, " the upgraded mental health system everybody funded by Canadians who got out of drink alcoholic beverages.

Conclusion

It appears logical full that the Canadian mind system is interested in a major overhaul. Associated with pension transfer comprehensive government programs, but, the issue of funding becomes a major obstacle to lower. The proposed Canadian over emotional system upgrade is no exception. Based on the reasons greater, it seems obvious in which the Canadian government needs recreate alternate sources of revenue generation sell worthwhile project. Indeed, to point out one of the main "flaws" in the stimulated proposal, consider the after which they are question: When is the largest amount of drinking a "good product or services? " Answer: when it finances a nationwide over emotional system upgrade. Something tells me this type of Andy Rooney from "60 Minutes" would have an excellent time with this.

Copyright 2007 ! Denny Soinski. All Benefits Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Benefits: You may reprint this article please leave all of the links active, do not edit the article anymore, and give the writer credit.



Denny Soinski, Ph. AND, writes about www. About-Alcohol-Abuse. com strategies and information about alcohol abuse, Alcoholics Unidentified topics, alcohol addiction, drink testing, www. Alcohol-Recovery-Info. net recovery from alcohol, drink detox, alcohol recovery, drink treatment, and alcohol rehabilitation. For more information, please click www. About-Alcohol. com alcohol and drinking problems within days!

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