California wine tax hike

Some Californian wine lovers are up in arms about a proposed increase in duty on wine in the state. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to help the state's budget deficit by raising the tax on a 75cl bottle of wine from four to 29.6 cents.

This may be a substantial percentage increase on the current almost minimal duty but to us Brits even 29.6 cents looks enviably low. Since long before the current financial crisis, we have had to pay well over £1.50 to our cash-strapped government for the privilege of getting our hands on a bottle of wine –...