On the inventiveness of teenagers

[sqbr]

So, I don't drink, never really got into it, and it's been nearly ten years since I was a teenager.

But while adding a tax to pre mixed drinks may cut down on teens drinking, wouldn't the logical solution just be for them to...mix their own drinks?

If I was a bottleshop owner I'd start selling value packs of fanta and vodka.

EDIT: Cam has pointed out that if any of you were dumb enough to go "Oh well, guess I'll have to stop drinking" I've just set you back on the path to drunkenness and ruin. Eh, I don't think any of you are teenagers anyway :)

EDIT 2: So apparently they're just making the tax more consistent, since it used to be cheaper to buy premixed drinks than the raw ingredients. That makes sense then, but the article is still dumb.

Comments

[maelkann.livejournal.com]

To be fair, they've now raised the excise on them to be in line with unmixed spirits. Theoretically, this equals... well, equality. I suspect it's actually made them more expensive though, so your mixing idea may hold water.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

As Maelkann points out, they've raised the tax actually to equalise with non-mixed, because previously it was cheaper to buy a load of RTDs than to buy your own (cheap) bourbon and coke and mix them yourself.

[alias_sqbr]

Ahh...well, that makes sense then.

[evil-megz.livejournal.com]

It doesn't make sense to me... through my teenage years I learned that to save money you bought a bottle of cheap spirits, or a flask of goon. I've never heard of people buying premixes because they are cheaper.

I thought the problem with premixes was they are marketed at a younger audience (like softdrink) than bottles of spirits, so they attract young drinkers.

[alias_sqbr]

I have no idea, I don't think I've ever paid money for alcohol that wasn't for cooking :)

[purrdence.livejournal.com]

Aparently it's already happening.

[alias_sqbr]

Mmm, that's the impression I get.

[shrydar.livejournal.com]

Not a teenager, but I do drink them.

Ah well, fewer smirnoff blacks and more rum and diet cokes coming up.. at least when I'm being a cheapskate :)

[alias_sqbr]

Or you could turn to hard drugs or theft, I hear that's what all the kids are doing these days :)

won't someone please think of the children

[davyd.livejournal.com]

Don't you know they're all going to get on drugs instead!

Re: won't someone please think of the children

[alias_sqbr]

Well they will now that you've pointed out the option!

[anxiolytic.livejournal.com]

hmmm, I didn't think it was ever cheaper to buy premixed drinks rather than mix your own, keeping in mind most of these RTD use very low quality spirits.

[alias_sqbr]

Yeah, I woudn't have thought so *shrugs*

[edible-hat.livejournal.com]

If the price gets too high and they'll just steal booze.

[alias_sqbr]

That does make more sense than going on to drugs (which are even more expensive)