liquor tax; tax on alcohol
A tax imposed on alcoholic beverages; used in legal, economic, and news contexts when discussing alcohol prices, tax rates, or policy.
The government plans to review the liquor tax on beer.
Prices of alcoholic beverages rose because of the increase in liquor tax.
The government imposes a high liquor tax on beer.
The liquor tax is scheduled to rise starting next year.
Businesses that import alcohol must pay the liquor tax.
Japan is known for having a high liquor tax.
消費税 is the broad consumption tax charged on almost all goods and services, whereas 酒税 is a separate, additional tax charged only on alcohol.
A Sino-Japanese compound of 酒, meaning alcoholic drink, and 税, meaning tax; the written form transparently reflects the meaning.