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Budget 2014: What could be this year's Wine Tax Factor?

Yes, the distracting levies that put the WTF in the Budget announcement.

REMEMBER THIS SCENE last Budget Day?

image

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:

image

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

image

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

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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

image

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

image

via Flickr/LWY

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

Taxi fares

image

via reactiongifs

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

Gym membership

image

gym via Shutterstock

Only fifty cent a lunge.

A levy on every smartphone screen you shatter

image

via tumblr

No fair.

Shopping in Penneys

image

fashion pic via Shutterstock

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

Pre-sliced fruit/vegetables

image

via tastingtable.com

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

Takeaway mocha choco creamy lattes

image

image

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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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Debbie Fahey
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:14 PM

    Fantastic work

    318
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    Mute Roly Burkinshaw
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:31 PM

    Que the F.T quotes …carefull now..etc etc …zzzzzz

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    Mute Yeah Ok
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:38 PM

    @Roly

    Down with this sort of thing!!

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    Mute Jimmy jones
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:45 PM

    @Roly

    Que someone with no sense of humour

    #fatherstone

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:53 PM

    Forget about Father Ted so, Roly.
    What is your favourite humming noise?
    Is it mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Or mmmmmmmm?

    132
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    Mute Fintin Stack
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:34 PM

    Roly, What are we watching? A load of young fellas running around in shorts!….. ill bet you like that…. you dirthy fecker!

    113
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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:35 PM

    They added an extension onto the extension, so the house is in a circle now

    60
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:38 PM

    This is a piece of advice my father gave to me. Now this refers not only to lagging, but all forms of insulation. He said “dont ever”…no, wait, it was “always”…no er, “never, never” – oh wait now, I’ve forgotten. Never mind…

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    Mute Gavin
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:49 PM

    I hear its the largest lingerie department in all of Ireland.

    61
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    Mute David Carino
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:56 PM

    Feck off

    32
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    Mute John Ward
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    Jul 24th 2016, 9:07 PM

    @Jimmy Jones: Qué?

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    Mute Richard Cronin
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    Jul 24th 2016, 11:52 PM

    I love brick

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    Mute Etherman
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:12 PM

    Now to paint Mrs Doyle at a T- junction.

    224
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    Mute Brendan McGill
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:32 PM

    Holding the “would you like a cup of tea?” sign

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    Mute Barbara Edwards
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    Jul 24th 2016, 9:33 PM

    Pointing the Tea pot saying “g’wan g’wan’” lol

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    Mute james
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:15 PM

    Are they small or far away?

    128
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    Mute Padraig
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:18 PM

    Brilliant.Would put an instant smile on your face.

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    Mute sean byrne
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:26 PM

    I’ve had my fun and that’s all that matters.

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    Mute Yeah Ok
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:14 PM

    Careful now!

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:31 PM

    Great initiative. Really well done.

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    Mute Blind Faith
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    Jul 24th 2016, 10:58 PM

    There seems to be a very crude watercolour painting of a man in a Bishops’ hat.

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    Mute Red hurley
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:40 PM

    Some mad man has painted priests on those two traffic boxes.

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    Mute Keith
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    Jul 24th 2016, 7:38 PM

    Great way to inject some colour into an urban area. Great work! Let’s hope some clown doesn’t destroy it with a tag!

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    Mute David Hefner
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:03 PM

    Irish televisions greatest exports

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    Mute Dave
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:31 PM

    Given the location Adam and Paul might of been more apt.

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    Mute Paul McNevin
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:41 PM

    How’s the son?

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    Mute Tommy Gunn
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:33 PM

    Father Ted, one of British televisions finest exports.

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    Mute Roly Burkinshaw
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:41 PM

    Carefull now ..oh no I’ve done it myself !!

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    Mute funkytown
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:46 PM

    That’s the spirit roly!

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    Mute John Flood
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:24 PM

    Sweet!

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    Mute Alan Ryan
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    Jul 24th 2016, 7:33 PM

    Fantastic.

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    Mute Ricky Grimes
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:09 PM

    How utterly utterly unoriginal.

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    Mute Yeah Ok
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:30 PM

    Tell me more about originality. Rick Grimes. From The Walking Dead.

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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:36 PM

    Hahaha shut it grimey!

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    Mute Pablo
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    Jul 24th 2016, 6:45 PM

    Boom!

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    Mute Jimmy Murphy
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    Jul 25th 2016, 12:39 AM

    Arse!

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Jul 24th 2016, 8:28 PM

    It’s graffiti and the person should be fined for defacing public property. Was he paid for this rubbish ?

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Jul 24th 2016, 8:59 PM

    Probably not, but he should be.

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    Mute David Rochford
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    Jul 24th 2016, 9:40 PM

    It’s a project that is fully sanctioned and legal: http://dublincanvas.com/ – Slander much?

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    Mute Ben Coughlan
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    Jul 25th 2016, 12:44 AM

    You gotta check out the Reimagine Cork traffic boxes, some of the newer ones would have you falling over.

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    Mute garb yakob
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    Jul 24th 2016, 9:08 PM

    Where are the other 2?! Hope the artist doesn’t get a fine and dcouncil don’t waste money removing them! 2 trucks! That’s all the 2 quotes i can mustered

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    Mute Lazlo Saint Pierre
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    Jul 26th 2016, 3:56 PM

    Excellent work John and fair play to Graham Linehan too. Two classic Dougal and Ted facial expressions! It would be nice to get Jack and Mrs Doyle in too. Mrs Doyle’s open facial expression always makes me laugh. Tea for everyone!

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    Mute James James
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    Jul 24th 2016, 5:52 PM

    Sluts

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