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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 6 (December 1, 1931)

Beer is Tax-shy

Beer is Tax-shy.

Christmas in the Old Country will have less of “wassail,” but may not be poorer for that. The cup that flows has been flowing at a lessened rate, if the Treasury barometer is correct. There was once an idea that the tax-yield of luxuries, or, at any rate, of beer, was limitless, but the putting of an additional penny on to the British beer-tax, if it has nor “dried up the source,” has certainly reduced the October revenue figures. “The breweries,” says the Daily Express, “will pay less to the Exchequer than if the beer tax had not been raised a penny a pint. Treasury officials admit that the new tax is a failure.” Once it was axiomatic that the British nation would get rid of a deficit in a glass of beer. The flowing bowl dissolved trouble, and the brewers could balance a Budget. Has appetite shrunk, or has it wandered into new and less taxable avenues?