The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote:

It's called VAT(Value Added Tax).

They are familiar with the concept in NZ, but they call it GST, and it's
only 12.5%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_a...n-EU_countries

a two ounce pkt of tobacco in france
or any othe european country outside the uk is about 2.25GBP(if that?) in
the UK it's 10.50GBP...hows that for gov ripping us off.

That's more due to Excise duty rather than VAT