Yep, you read the title right, once upon time hats were taxed in the same way alcohol and petrol are now!
Between the years 17-84 and 1811 the UK government in particular, Prime Minister William Pitt, imposed a tax for all hat lovers (can you imagine!!).
Hat sellers had to purchase a licence from the government in order to sell hats and prices increased due to these tax arrangements.
Why a tax on hats you ask? Well, the government believed that this tax would directly be impacting the rich (those who can buy hats) and so would be fair in the economic conditions of Britain at the time.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, those who didn’t pay hat taxes were given enormous fines or even in some cases … the death penalty!
Stay tuned for more fun hat facts!