March 26th, 2010 | 
Author: In the UK, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is the guy who is responsible for the nation’s economy. He sets government spending and borrowing, and he sets the levels of taxation.
Every year, the Chancellor makes a budget statement, and the entire country groans as he adds yet more duty (taxation) to alcohol, petrol (gasoline), tobacco goods, and anything else he can get away with.
Cider, the alcoholic drink made from apples or pears, has enjoyed a special status in the UK and has not been taxed as much as beer. That is, until March 2010, when the duty on cider is being increased by 10% above inflation.
Unsurprisingly, there is a lot of opposition to this move, including the Leave Our Cider Alone group on Facebook, which as part of its campaign is attempting to get the 1976 Wurzels hit, “I Am A Cider Drinker” to the top of the charts.
The increase in taxation is going to have an effect on cider consumption and will hit the UK’s cider industry and orchards hard. We’ve already lost over 90% of our orchards over the last 75 years. It would be a pity to lose more of them.
I’m not sure I’m ready to hear the Wurzels again, but I’ll tolerate it if it means supporting our apple and cider industry.
So lend your support. Join the Facebook group and sign the petition against this punitative increase in taxation.
I’m now in two minds – I don’t want to contribute to putting the cider companies out of business by boycotting cider, but I object to paying so much tax to a government that has mis-managed our economy for 13 years.
I don’t drink a lot of cider, so I’ll probably continue to buy the same amount as before, but I might also resurrect my interest in home-brew. Cider is really easy to make and the government can’t tax it.
I’ll be posting more on home-brewing on this site, so keep coming back.
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