The federal government has drafted a national alcohol strategy for the next eight years which proposes putting a "minimum floor price" on alcoholic drinks.
That would translate into a cask of wine moving in price from around $10 to about $45, a slab of beer rising from around $47 to over $50, and a bottle of sparkling wine costing $10, up from around $7.
Brewers Association of Australia chief executive Brett Heffernan told The Australian he believed the proposal was "out of whack" with modern drinking behaviour.
“The problem with the draft strategy is that it targets all consumption, not harmful drinking," he said.
He said the strategy failed to recognise the government's own official statistics that show total consumption trends falling dramatically in Australia.
"Putting the prices up on everything is regressive and doesn't actually achieve desired health outcomes, which require tackling those few who misuse alcohol," Heffernan said.
The strategy targets a 10 per cent reduction in harmful alcohol consumption.
The health department argued there was "good evidence" higher alcohol prices lead to lower consumption and harm.
"A number of Australian and international reports suggest raising the price of the cheapest forms of alcohol by setting a minimum floor price will have a significant impact on risky drinking," its report stated.
The draft strategy was devised after three years of consultation by the Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum.
The forum aims to finalise the strategy by March.
Along with the pricing proposal, the strategy also suggested a new taxation scheme that would see drinks taxed on how much alcohol they contained, rather than which category they fall under.
Currently, tax rates differ between wine, beer and spirits with wine drinkers paying the lowest tax.
The plan also recommended significant restriction on alcohol advertising, including banning promotion of discounted or low-priced alcohol, including “bulk-buys, two-for-one offers, shop-a-dockets and other promotions based on price”.
