What is the name of a tax assessed on a specific thing, such as theater tickets, alcoholic beverages, or tobacco? specific tax single item tax precise tax excise tax

The correct answer is excise tax!

The word "excise" has a Dutch etymology - perhaps that's why it's not immediately recognizeable as a special item tax.

it is used for specific kinds of goods, most typically alcohol and tobacco. Other goods, include vehicles and gambling activities.