Mr. Viking wrote:uk government always tries to raise the price of alcohol. I think there is a mentality that drunkeness is a vice of the poorer classes and that so long as they are stopped from drinking all is good
I always thought it was purely about the money. I was surprised to learn that the percentage of money goverments make off booze taxes is smaller than I expected. The rise in cost is likely in part because they would like to increase that percentage.
"Alcohol duties make a substantial contribution to state revenues. HMRC received
approximately £10 billion from alcohol duties in the financial year 2012/13, 2% of total tax
receipts"
source
Accurate figures for the US are harder to come by, since alcohol is taxed both at the state and federal level, so the money flows every which way.
Of course, governments shoot themselves in the foot (and some politicians are aware of this, informed as they are by their friendly neighborhood lobbyists) if they cause consumption to decrease, because the economic value of the industry is enormous.
"Booznik. Smooth, classy and manatee-like." --Bur
"Oh, you've been reading your
Sir Kenelm Digby, haven't you? Stick to the mead recipes, especially that of the Mayor of Moscovy. That shizz is
SACK!!!" --Badfellow
"Now stop and DRINK! bastards." --mistah willies
"A stand alone place for booze is as essential for a home, as is a bed to sleep on." --Miklo