Budget: ‘Sin taxes’ go up again

As has become the norm each year as the proposed budget comes along, smokers and drinkers have been targeted to pay even more tax for their cigarettes or booze of choice.

Since 2002, tax rates on most alcoholic beverages have consistently above inflation and this year is no different.

The ‘sin taxes’ means people will have to pay an increase of:

• 12 cents per can of malt beer;
• 23c for a bottle of unfortified wine and 26c for fortified wine;
• 70c for sparkling wine;
• 12c for a 340ml bottle of cider and alcoholic fruit drinks; and
• a staggering R4.43 for a bottle of spirits.

Smokers can expect to pay an extra R1 for a packet of 20 cigarettes; R1.20 per bag of tobacco; 40c for pipe tobacco and a whopping R6.58 for a cigar.