Proposal to raise the cost of standard drinks to curb alcohol consumption

Federal and state ministers have a draft proposal aimed at cutting Australia's alcohol consumption by raising the cost of a standard drink.

Federal and state ministers have a draft proposal aimed at cutting Australia's alcohol consumption by raising the cost of a standard drink. Source: AAP

A proposal to significantly reduce Australians' alcohol consumption by heavily increasing prices for a standard drink is being proposed by federal and state government ministers.

The draft plan would prevent the cost of all alcoholic drinks from dropping below set prices, with those in the industry expecting a base price of $1.50 per standard drink, The Herald Sun reports on Wednesday.

They expect this would translate into jumps in the cost of some of Australia's most popular drinks.

It could see a cask of wine skyrocketing from about $10 to about $45, a slab of beer rising from about $47 to more than $50, and a bottle of sparkling wine costing $10 up from about $7.