AlcoWhat?

AlcoTax

The recent raising of the wholesale tax on "alco-pop" in Australia has got me thinking - surely there is a better way for Governments to raise money?

Maybe they should consider a tax on breathing , or sleeping - everyone does it, so it's a sure fire revenue earner (and its fair!).

Why instead do we target specific products and, by default,  particular demographics?

Shouldn't  alcoholic (or indeed any)  products be taxed equally across the board?

Is it fair  that wine attracts an additional 29% over other alcoholic beverages (i.e. the Wine Equalisation Tax or W.E.T - what's so equal about that)? Where's the B.E.T (Beer Equalisation Tax) ,  the V.E.T (Vodka Equalisation Tax) or the F.E.T (Food Equalisation Tax)? Huh, tell me huh...huh!!!

All this raises one very important question: Should alcohol even be taxed at all?

After countless hours of extensive study acorss many varied and differing economies and cultures I can quite safely conclude that the answer is NO...

...although I am quite happy to hear further and final submissions to the contrary.

MW