Beer Excise is set to increase again this week and once more the Federal Government is coming under fire for not helping slow the rate of breweries closing down and not helping consumers with cost-of-living pressures.
Both the Independent Brewers Association (IBA) and Australian Hotels Association (AHA) have called on the government to do more and to take decisive action to help save Australia’s brewing and spirits industries.
Kylie Lethbridge, IBA’s CEO, told The Shout: “We are disappointed that, once again the Federal Government are making a choice to hurt rather than help, our Australian owned independent brewers.
“They seem to be on a deliberate mission to send our small business broke rather than to provide any flexibility in the way taxes are collected, let alone offering any relief on the twice a year excise increase.
“This latest hike will ensure many more job losses, significant impacts for industry suppliers and the tourism and hospitality businesses they support.
“The IBA applauds publicans and our Aussie beer consumers who are now calling on the Albanese government to stem the losses and to ensure a pint of beer remains affordable however, we no longer have faith that they are listening.”
AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson said a beer excise increase was a crippling tax and a hidden tax on socialising.
“We are calling on the Government, Opposition and Cross Bench to support reducing the excise on all beer and spirits poured into a glass and served to a customer in a pub,” Ferguson said.
“It’s not the politicians who cop the grief from customers every time the business has to pass this hidden tax on – it’s the worker or owner behind the bar who cops it.
“This hidden tax – which has gone up every six months for the last 35 years – will hit pub-goers in the hip pocket at a time they can least afford it.”
Ferguson added: “Australia’s hidden beer tax rate is now the third highest in the OECD and the excise on beer and spirits this financial year alone will be nearly $8bn.
“It’s nothing but a hidden tax on socialising – when we know how important it is for people to spend time with their friends out of the home.
“And it’s a hidden tax on the jobs of the people pouring your beer or making your gin and tonic.”
Last week Spirits & Cocktails Australia and the Australian Distillers Association also called on the Government to take action on alcohol excise, saying our hospitality sector is already on its knees, and that another tax increase will only increase the cost burden on struggling venues.