REMEMBER THIS SCENE last Budget Day?

Via @RSVPMagazine

That’s right: the Wine Tax. There was a disproportionate level of indignation aimed at the introduction of an extra €1 duty on a bottle of wine when it was announced during the 2013 Budget. (Disproportionate in the context of the overall cuts and taxes imposed that day.)

But was the Government just being very, very shnakey? Twitter user Niamh McAllister suspected as much at the time:

She wasn’t wrong: the levy has raised €45 million for State coffers since its introduction in December 2012. In other words, it didn’t put us off our plonk.

So should we brace ourselves for another ‘easy tax’ next Tuesday? One that will distract us from the big cuts by hitting us in the little luxuries? Let’s fire up the #firstworldproblems hashtag.

Crisps or chocolate with notions

via mccun934/CreativeCommons

You thought you could scoff organic 95% dark chocolate infused with wasabi and Dead Sea salt crystals and get away with it?

Nightclub entry/cloakroom use

via Copper Face Jacks app

If we’re ‘merry’ enough by the time we get to the entrance, we’ll hardly notice. Go on – throw a euro on the cloakroom ticket too. See also: cans of Red Bull purchased after 1am.

€1 levy every time you finish a critically-acclaimed boxset

via 24.media.tumblr

Or a series on Netflix. And an extra euro for each time you ask someone, aghast: "What?! You haven't seen The Wire House of Breaking Cards yet? It's only the Shakespeare/Dickens of our time."

Breakfast rolls

via Flickr/LWY

Kick us while we're down, why don't you.

Taxi fares

via reactiongifs

Sometimes we're just tired. And our tails hurt.

Gym membership

gym via Shutterstock

Only fifty cent a lunge.

A levy on every smartphone screen you shatter

via tumblr

No fair.

Shopping in Penneys

fashion pic via Shutterstock

Basket-full for under €20? That's what you think.

Pre-sliced fruit/vegetables

via tastingtable.com

They won't be happy until someone loses a digit.

Takeaway mocha choco creamy lattes

coffee via Shutterstock/ sign at UCD via Colm O'Grada

Paying to be a fancy pants.

What would be your WTF (Wine Tax Factor) moment? Something that you'd hate to see hit with a levy - but would probably continue buying anyway?

Guess who much that extra euro on a bottle of wine has raised?>
7 people who were really keen to get cheaper wine...>
More on Budget 2014>

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