They could have used anyone as an interviewee and I'd not feel any sympathy one way or the other.
We all have habits we like to indulge in (notice I did not say vices). We all pay taxes. Nobody likes to pay them. But we do anyone.
And when something gets too expensive, we give it up, or give something else up. It's called making choices with what resources you have available.
Would this story gain any traction if someone were complaining about taxes on booze?
When they triple the price of booze with taxes, I support buying that tax free as well.