Cheap wine brings alcohol tax loopholes to foreground

Jimmy Barnes once extolled the values of cheap wine in one of Cold Chisel’s best-known tunes and alcohol vendors are reportedly beginning to catch on with strong wine-based drinks appearing on the shelves – and avoiding the high taxes that hit similarly potent spirits. The wine-based drinks are sold on the spirits shelves and contain a similar alcohol level to spirits including rum and whiskey, Fairfax Media has reported. However, the tipple carries a price tag of half to as much as a quarter of older-style strong drink.