|
veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,504
|
[UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report
#14308164 - 04/17/11 06:44 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report April 17, 2011 - guardian.co.uk
Super-strength ciders are becoming popular among heavy drinkers as tax breaks to protect the industry make them a cheaper fix
It may be cheap, but white cider, the drink of choice for many homeless alcoholics, commands big profits.
A new report by the charity Alcohol Concern suggests profit margins on white cider are significantly fatter than those on other alcoholic drinks, thanks in part to tax breaks designed to help traditional British cider makers.
Cans of brands such as White Ace, Carbon White and White Star sell for as little as 59p. "It's because it's so cheap and it has a very quick effect on you," said Gordon Cowper, 52, a recovering alcoholic who now works for the homelessness charity Thames Reach in London.
"Most drinks are quite hard to drink, like whisky and stuff like that. With cider, you put a little bit of lemonade in it with the first one and then you can start knocking it back."
The report reveals that the Treasury takes 32p in VAT and duty on the sale of an 85p can of White Ace, leaving a remainder of 53p. By contrast, a super-strength lager such as Kestrel sells for £1.20 a can, of which the Treasury takes £1.04, leaving 16p.
The difference between the two drinks means retailers can sell strong cider far more cheaply than strong lager and still enjoy large profit margins.
A spokesman for Bestway, the cash-and-carry operator that owns the White Ace brand, confirmed it "sells very well", but declined to give figures.
Cider contributes more than £1m a day to the exchequer, but it is taxed at a lower rate than other alcoholic drinks to protect the traditional cider industry, primarily to allow for investment in orchard development.
Following the rise in alcohol tax in the budget, cider up to 7.5% in strength attracts a lower rate of duty at £35.87 per hectolitre (100 litres) than standard 4% beer or lager that attracts a duty of £74.28.
Tony Waters, a long-serving manager at a Thames Reach hostel, said price had been the major factor in homeless people migrating from weak to strong cider in recent years. "Nowadays people won't drink ordinary-strength ciders, they don't see it as strong enough, basically," he said.
Tony Goodall, the report's author, estimated that about half the white cider drinkers he interviewed claimed to drink more than three litres a day. "Most have an incredibly detailed knowledge of the price variations," Goodall pointed out. "Some of the small shops were willing to give them credit if they were sure of payment when their welfare payments were received. Other shopkeepers were prepared to sell below the prices on the shelves to these very regular customers."
Many said they believed the drink produced far more stomach problems than other forms of alcohol. Several described a burning sensation as they drank the cider.
Jeremy Swain, chief executive of Thames Reach, said: "You see techniques like when they [white cider drinkers] drink out of a can, they'll pierce a hole in the end to release the gas and down it very quickly as the lack of bubbles means a quicker hit to the brain. It bears a likeness to that of a heroin addict who will inject into the groin because it produces the fastest effect."
A backlash against the drinks has already seen Heineken discontinue its White Lightning and Strongbow Black brands.
However, a manager at Aston Manor, another white cider manufacturer, told Goodall: "If you take all the white ciders in the UK, it accounts for 0.1% of alcohol consumption and is being abused by a small percentage of people. Problem drinkers are a social issue, not an economic issue."
Attempts to increase the tax on cider to curb the problem have proved to be controversial. The Labour chancellor Alistair Darling tried to impose a 10% tax rise above inflation on cider, compared with a 2% increase for other alcoholic drinks. But the plan was shelved amid a furore from the cider industry. The coalition government tried to differentiate white ciders from traditional ciders in the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Order.
Until recently, cider could be made with minimum apple content, in some cases as little as 7%. The new order establishes that ciders must have a minimum apple juice content of 35%. But with the majority of the apple content now sourced from eastern Europe, rather than English orchards, achieving the minimum level has been an inexpensive exercise.
Goodall explained: "The UK doesn't produce sufficient sweet apples to meet the blending demands of the cider industry, which is why its producers need to import culinary concentrate. New strains of apple are being developed locally, but it takes five years for trees to produce any significant crop."
Apple concentrate prices have historically been very cheap abroad, although poor harvests in Poland may now start to push prices up. But by importing the concentrate, white cider manufacturers have been able to avoid the high set-up costs of orchard planting and milling, and are also able to source their key ingredient – along with corn syrup – throughout the year.
There are predictions that super-strength cider will become more popular later this year. From October, duty on beers above 7.5% in strength will rise by 25%. Experts suggest this will see more super-strength lager drinkers switch to cider as they attempt to save money.
Alcohol Concern and a coalition of homelessness charities want a ban on strong cider being sold in anything larger than one-litre bottles.
"We also want to see the Department of Health commission neurological research into prolonged exposure to white cider," said Charles Fraser, chief executive of St Mungo's, the homelessness charity. "We can't understand why the problem of alcohol dependency isn't a bigger priority. The cost in human lives is appalling."
|
MidRange
Stranger
Registered: 01/10/11
Posts: 296
Last seen: 9 years, 3 days
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: veggie]
#14308248 - 04/17/11 07:01 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Oh know the homeless are getting a cheap fix!!! Maybe we can do a news report on the homeless and how to help, instead of building and re-enforcing stereotypes.
-------------------- "Sacrifice is the Christian way of life. Theft is the Socialist way of achieving all ends. Together they represent an awesome evil for this nation to confront." Marc Emery. People who receive medical cannabis trough the federal government.
|
shopdropper
Professional Psychonaut


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 1,623
Loc: Sailing the sea of cheese
Last seen: 6 months, 25 days
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: MidRange]
#14308531 - 04/17/11 08:02 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Injecting into the groin? Lol if your shooting in your dick you've probly blown out every other vein
-------------------- DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: no guarantees can be made about the accuracy of the information herein. The information dicussed in these posts is purely hypothetical, and for intelectual purposes only. Any similarity between internet chat and real life is pure coincidence.
|
Sophistic Radiance
Free sVs!


Registered: 07/11/06
Posts: 43,135
Loc: Center of the Universe
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: shopdropper]
#14308581 - 04/17/11 08:12 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|

No form of alcohol is better for you than clean heroin.
-------------------- Enlil said: You really are the worst kind of person.
|
iamnotadream
Enis the Penis

Registered: 12/05/10
Posts: 2,599
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: shopdropper] 1
#14308592 - 04/17/11 08:13 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
it's on the news, now i have to try it
thanks government
|
DrMambo
hamburger time



Registered: 04/06/04
Posts: 6,197
Loc: 53rd & 3rd
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: veggie]
#14309177 - 04/17/11 09:43 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
I'm making my own high abv dry cider one bottle at a time...
commercial us ciders suck
-------------------- "Yeah, he's a professor...... OF BEING A DOG!"
|
LeeHarvOz
Homie


Registered: 10/13/10
Posts: 2,339
Last seen: 1 year, 7 days
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: veggie]
#14310264 - 04/18/11 02:28 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
"Jeremy Swain, chief executive of Thames Reach, said: "You see techniques like when they [white cider drinkers] drink out of a can, they'll pierce a hole in the end to release the gas and down it very quickly as the lack of bubbles means a quicker hit to the brain. It bears a likeness to that of a heroin addict who will inject into the groin because it produces the fastest effect.""
soooo. shotgunning some malt liquor is the same thing as shooting heroin into your D???
|
Valafar
Striking for the gentle



Registered: 02/20/10
Posts: 155
Loc: Vermont/Maine
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: LeeHarvOz]
#14310357 - 04/18/11 03:08 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
LeeHarvOz said:
soooo. shotgunning some malt liquor is the same thing as shooting heroin into your D???
Of course duuuddee didn't you know that?!?!?!
And wouldn't shooting up in your groin not cause the effects to kick in any faster what so ever? I mean it is literally the same as shooting up any other vein...
-------------------- "Tolling for the searching ones, on their speechless, seeking trail For the lonesome-hearted lovers with too personal a tale And for each unharmful, gentle soul misplaced inside a jail And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing"
|
MilkdudTitties
My Nipples Look Like Milk Duds



Registered: 03/22/09
Posts: 3,796
Loc: USA
Last seen: 7 years, 5 months
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: Valafar]
#14311017 - 04/18/11 09:05 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Valafar said:
Quote:
LeeHarvOz said:
soooo. shotgunning some malt liquor is the same thing as shooting heroin into your D???
Of course duuuddee didn't you know that?!?!?!
And wouldn't shooting up in your groin not cause the effects to kick in any faster what so ever? I mean it is literally the same as shooting up any other vein...
It would be the same as any other vein except way more painful. Whoever wrote this has obviously never shot up or even thought about it
|
Diacetylmentlegen
Gentleman



Registered: 06/13/10
Posts: 267
Loc: Ireland
Last seen: 11 years, 6 months
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: Sophistic Radiance]
#14311544 - 04/18/11 11:45 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Tchan909 said:

No form of alcohol is better for you than clean heroin.
I know... I read this and thought: "Wow, white cider is becoming a harmless but highly addictive substance? Amazing."
-------------------- "When I recall it and when I recall various other symptoms... I think the simplest explanation is... that I had these experiences, that they were real... and that they took place outside time." - Christopher Mayhew
|
batman returns
Dude man



Registered: 09/12/09
Posts: 213
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: Diacetylmentlegen]
#14311704 - 04/18/11 12:25 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
wtf...
|
Psychoslut
The Mother Fucking Bear-o-dactyl

Registered: 12/10/02
Posts: 20,917
Loc: all up in ya
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: veggie]
#14311765 - 04/18/11 12:37 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Hard cider is becoming more and more common in the united states too i think.
I used to never see it at all, now its on the end caps of every liquor store.
--------------------
[quote]KristiMidocean said: Good now thats clear.WHO FUCKING CARES. If I am fat u all keep pointing it out like its suppose to be a secret.LIke u really have nothing better to do then make fat jokes. If o know its like I do I know yall can come up with NEW AND BETTER SHIT . This shit is old and boring . I left in the first place cause this shit got boring not because of the fat jokes . Fat jokes dont bother me but seriously its old[/quote]
|
MisterMuscaria



Registered: 05/13/08
Posts: 27,646
Loc:
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: Psychoslut]
#14311811 - 04/18/11 12:50 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
ive never seen white cider in the states.
|
Greendreams

Registered: 01/07/08
Posts: 3,863
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report *DELETED* [Re: veggie]
#14311890 - 04/18/11 01:02 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Post deleted by Greendreams
Reason for deletion: .
|
Odd_Nonposter
Unrecognizable



Registered: 06/26/10
Posts: 430
Loc: Ohio
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: Greendreams]
#14312068 - 04/18/11 01:31 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Jeremy Swain, chief executive of Thames Reach, said: "You see techniques like when they [white cider drinkers] drink out of a can, they'll pierce a hole in the end to release the gas and down it very quickly as the lack of bubbles means a quicker hit to the brain.
Uh huh. Bubbles totally slow things down on the way to the brain. Not like they can drink it faster or anything. 
Methinks the quote is paraphrased. Poor reporting, as usual.
|
Remix
grammer natze



Registered: 08/05/10
Posts: 4,171
Last seen: 1 year, 5 months
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: Odd_Nonposter]
#14312632 - 04/18/11 02:50 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Odd_Nonposter said:
Quote:
Jeremy Swain, chief executive of Thames Reach, said: "You see techniques like when they [white cider drinkers] drink out of a can, they'll pierce a hole in the end to release the gas and down it very quickly as the lack of bubbles means a quicker hit to the brain.
Uh huh. Bubbles totally slow things down on the way to the brain. Not like they can drink it faster or anything. 
Methinks the quote is paraphrased. Poor reporting, as usual.
Haha. The truth is actually the opposite AFAIK. Carbonation makes alcohol go to the brain quicker.
Fun Fact: there's a liquor shot called "mind eraser" for the reason is that, since it's carbonated, it hits you quickly (it also typically has around 4 oz of liquor instead of the usual 2).
--------------------
Edited by Remix (04/18/11 02:54 PM)
|
Darklight203
Same Shit



Registered: 08/14/10
Posts: 1,394
Loc: Nome, Alaska
Last seen: 3 months, 5 days
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: Remix]
#14313126 - 04/18/11 04:18 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
I thought it was the sugars that help metabolize it into your blood stream faster.
-------------------- In ancient times, when demons roamed with man, They hunted, loved and lost, hand in hand, As time went on, the difference between them faded. You couldn't tell anymore, demons and man were related, and some would say the same, but who would like to claim? In time, Gods had even forgot, Demons, too, once love had sought. In times recent I remember, Once I was a man, In my heart I had an ember, I'll relate the best I can but it was snuffed, one distant December. And yet here I stand, no flesh, no bones, no seed or semen, All that's left is this Demon.
|
Remix
grammer natze



Registered: 08/05/10
Posts: 4,171
Last seen: 1 year, 5 months
|
Re: [UK] White cider is becoming like heroin among alcoholics, says report [Re: Darklight203]
#14313224 - 04/18/11 04:41 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Well, that too.
Lots of factors can contribute to faster absorption of alcohol.
--------------------
|
|