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Brewers Opposition Begins
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With the popularity of tea growing quickly it became apparent that it could well pose a threat to sales of ale in England. Brewers clubbed together in a league to oppose tea, with other parties joining their movement as time passed by. One party opposed to drinking tea was the Church, who had denounced it as a damaging and sinful pursuit. Doctors also came onboard with the point of view that tea was bad for the public's health. Together this league of opposition formed a powerful lobby in Parliament who began to use their political, financial and religious clout against tea.

Opposition Leads to High Taxing

The potential for tea to damage sales of beer worried the brewers considerably, so they approached Parliament with their case. After a period of persistent lobbying, the brewers convinced Parliament to introduce a tax on tea. The following years brought further heavy taxes on tea, taking the rate of taxation to an unthinkable high of 119%! Tea was now effectively a drink that could only be afforded by the elite of society.

High Taxes Lead to Smuggling

As the tax on tea was so high, the volume of smuggled tea increased to fill the gap in demand. This was a very profitable trade, especially as smuggling a boat load of tea via a remote coastal region was relatively easy. The only problem with smuggling, apart from it being illegal, was that the smuggler / smugglers had to bring in enough to pay everyone in their community or risk someone blowing the whistle.

Smuggling Damages the Reputation of Legitimate Importers

The proliferation of poor quality, smuggled tea began to drag the reputation of the legitimate tea importers through the mud. In an effort to make an extra profit, smugglers were known to add extra ingredients to bulk up their tea. However, they were found to be adding everything from used tea leaves to willow. Wide spread tea smuggling only ceased with the introduction of the Commutation Act in 1784.

From Bad to Worse

High taxes on tea were not only limited to Britain. In 1773 Lord North gave the East India Company a monopoly over tea imported into America. He had hoped that this move would eradicate the large amounts of smuggled tea being distributed in the American colonies, while ensuring taxes were paid back to Britain. The plan backfired spectacularly, prompting all tea imported by the East India Company to be voluntarily boycotted. The situation continued to descend until a group of American patriots boarded an East India Company ship and cast 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbour. This was the beginning of the American Revolution.

Taxes Lowered

Losing the American colonies was a turning point for tea taxation in Britain. Richard Twining, an influential tea merchant, approached the Prime Minister and persuaded him to lower taxes. His argument was to lower the rate of taxation and thus quash the level of illicitly imported tea and in turn increasing demand for tea, resulting in more tax being paid. Taxes were lowered and tea soon rose to become the nation's favourite drink.

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