ALCOPOPS and other strong drinks will face higher taxes, under plans from the Conservatives to curb the binge drinking culture.

David Cameron’s Tories are planning to increase excise duty on a range of products associated with problem drinking, it was reported last night.

As well as alcopops, such as WKD, strong lagers such as Tennent’s Super, and White Lightning, the 7.5% alcohol cider, will be targeted in the tax rise.

However middle-class drinkers of wine or real ale would be exempt from any increased duty.

The shift in policy, which comes a week ahead of the budget on March 12, puts the Tory Treasury spokesman George Osborne at odds with the chancellor, Alistair Darling.

Ministers have already signalled that they believe taxation would be an ineffective tool to curb binge drinking.

Instead the government is focusing attention on drawing up new rules

to deter supermarkets from selling alcohol as a “loss leader”. Tesco, for example, was recently rebuked for promoting own-brand lager at less than 25p a can.

The Conservatives are reported to be still calculating the exact tax increase to be imposed.

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