The Rudd government's tax hike on alcopops has failed to slash the amount of alcohol being sold, a survey of liquor retailers shows.
The government boosted tax on alcopops by 70 per cent in April this year.
Of 480 liquor retailers surveyed, 88 per cent believed the tax increase had not reduced alcohol consumption, while four out of five said most alcopop consumers had switched to other forms of alcohol.
The research was conducted by research company EMRS for the lobby group, the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia.
Respondents were selected at random across Australia and the margin for error was 3.9 per cent.
"It's the liquor retailers, security guards, accident and emergency staff and police officers who are dealing with the fall-out from a policy that encourages the purchase of more and stronger alcohol products," council spokesman Stephen Riden said.
When asked to select a message they would like to send to the federal government about the tax increase, 13 per cent of respondents said it encouraged people to buy stronger spirits, while nine per cent said it was merely a tax grab.
A further nine per cent thought it would not stop youth binge drinking and seven per cent wanted the tax increase reversed.
The government must have legislation passed by April next year for the $3.1 billion rise in alcopop taxes to stand.
The opposition has vowed to block the bill in the Senate, which means the government must secure the support of five Greens, Family First's Steve Fielding and independent Senator Nick Xenophon.
