Sir, – Dr Kevin Denny (Letters, July 25th) wrongly asserts that halving our alcohol consumption would cost the exchequer €450 million in tax revenue.
As an economist, he should be aware that the money not spent on alcohol, as a result of halving consumption, does not disappear into a black hole. It is disposable income, and if not spent on alcohol it would be either saved or spent on other goods and services. Such actions in turn would generate their own tax revenue stream, thereby replacing the “lost” €450 million. And the population would most likely be healthier, a sort of win-win situation. – Yours, etc,