That's odd, it became the main thing around, it's still a thing and I think it made a bit of a comeback or people just said it's worth the cost and lack of hassle.
It also has a good mark up on the price you can charge.
Every budget raises the price, since it's one of the things you can always raise the price on and no on will mind or defend.
Same with tobacco.
Raise it say 2%. Do that every year or two. And eventually it gets high enough to make people say screw it I'll buy from a super market instead and get wankered for £20 rather than say six or seven pints costing you +£30.