For a standard 700ml bottle of spirits, approximately $30 goes directly to the Government in alcohol excise. The Spirits Council of Australia said the tax rate is six times higher than the United States and around double of New Zealand. “This is no longer just a tax issue, it is a consumer confidence issue,” he said. “Every excise increase makes legitimate Australian spirits more expensive while illegal operators continue to avoid tax altogether. Criminals don’t pay excise, don’t comply with food safety standards and don’t care what ends up in the bottle.”