In an attempt to extricate some answers from the industry, trade and industry secretary Stephen Byers called representatives of the Link network and leading banks and building societies in for a meeting where he told them they "should not underestimate the feeling of anger amongst their customers" as a result of their decision to introduce a surcharge.
Waste Management also introduced a fuel surcharge to customers three years ago that let it recoup more than half of an unexpected short-term increase in fuel costs.
The sight appears to have induced them into introducing a 20% surcharge on the beverage, a tax that will go up or down depending on whether beans are roasted.
The chancellor has also introduced a new corporation tax surcharge on banks, in a move which is regarded as reducing the burden on large banks and imposing more tax on smaller players.
In June, Sydney introduced a 4% stamp duty surcharge on foreigners buying homes; the following month, Melbourne hiked stamp duty rates from 3% to 7% for foreign buyers – in both cases to deter rampant property speculation.
He introduced an 8% import surcharge, backed by tax hikes and deep spending cuts.
Gordon Brown introduced a 1% national insurance health surcharge in his 2002 budget.
Representative Nita M. Lowey, Democrat of New York, recently introduced a bill to repeal the surcharge, which she says will hit "more and more middle-class seniors".
It is not clear whether London would seek to follow Brighton, which has introduced a voluntary sugar tax, encouraging shops to take a 10p surcharge on sales of sugary drinks, which is then contributed to children's health spending.
The local council has partnered with chef Jamie Oliver, who introduced a 10p tax in his own restaurants, and is calling on eateries to impose a 10p surcharge on all sugary soft beverages, with the proceeds to be donated to charity.
