It’s not just your imagination playing tricks on you after one too many. Governments around the world often tweak alcohol duties and taxes as part of their yearly budgets. Think of it like a quiet annual subscription fee on your favourite vice—except nobody asked you to renew it.
If you’ve bought a six-pack recently and winced at the price, you’re not alone. That little jump often comes from an increase in excise tax, which is a fancy way of saying the government takes a bigger slice of every can, bottle, or glass you enjoy.
