Back in the 60's and for a few years after due to an anomaly in the excise duty regulations cider was taxed at a nominal value that made it very cheap, and it was often of almost wine strength when made locally on farms down here in Devon, sometimes up to 10 or 11per cent or even higher, most tourists never realised just how strong it could be and often suffered for their ignorance !! nowadays with the tax based on the Specific Gravity strengths are much lower usually in the 4-5% range comparable with beers.