OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Wednesday 2.30pm
SMOKERS and drinkers are going to be paying more on most alcohol and tobacco products and the increases are effective immediately, Finance Minister Manuel announced in his Budget.
From today, smokers will pay 38 cents more on a packet of 20 cigarettes while drinkers will be charged two cents more for a can of beer or cider, and 2,6 cents more on a bottle of wine. Duty on fortified wines such as port and sherry goes up by six cents a bottle.
The excise duty on a bottle of spirits rises by 51 cents a bottle. Tax on sorghum beer remains unchanged.
The net effect of all these excise changes will be additional revenue estimated at R565 -million.
The Budget Review, tabled with the Budget, says taxes on tobacco and alcohol are motivated in part by health and public welfare considerations.