Booze and new cars
We probably won't get any actually polling evidence on the budget until tonight at the very earliest. If the two biggest changes in the budget were taxes on alcohol and cars, what can we expect to see?
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association commissioned an ICM poll on the public's reaction to potential rises in alcohol taxation back in January, and unsurprisingly it doesn't look like they'll be positively received. Asked whether they were in favour of the Government raising taxes on all alcoholic drinks in order to "tackle problem drinking", only 33% of people said they were in favour, with 65% opposed. 61% of respondents agreed with the statement "Only a tiny minority of people actually abuse alcohol so adding more regulations for the drinks industry and raising the prices of alcoholic drinks by raising taxes will unfairly penalise the majority who drink sensibly"
Interestingly enough, there was a noticable difference between the attitudes of middle class and working class respondents. Opposition to tax rises on alcohol was overwhelming amongst ABs - 71% were opposed with only 28% in support. Amongst DEs, where perhaps problem drinking is more visible, opinion was more balanced - 54% were opposed, but 44% were against.
On the new 'showroom tax' things look more positive. Polls on possible environmental taxes normally show relatively positive reactions towards taxes that are directly linked to more polluting cars - my guess has always been that the reason is people always imagine that the tax will fall upon cars more polluting than the car they own. Anyway, there is a general tend in such questions that taxes that people can avoid - like taxes on large cars - are more popular than blanket taxes like road charging or fuel tax hikes which will effect everyone.
I'm not aware of any polls that have asked a direct question about a 'showroom tax' that only applies to brand new cars, but my guess, given that it is a tax that will only affect people when they buy a new car and one that is directly linked to the most polluting cars, that the polls in the next few days will show that it is relatively popular compared to other announcements.
