Beer Tax: Beer Drinkers Hit with Biggest Tax Increase in 30 Years
The beer tax is set to increase by four per cent, or $2.50 more per litre.
Australia is facing its biggest beer tax hike in three decades. Thanks to that, a pint at the pub could cost the buyers as high as AU$ 15. The tax will increase by 4%, or AU$ 2.50 more per litre. If someone buys their own drinks at the bottle shop, it won’t help either, as the carton’s taxes are expected to rise to AU$ 18.80.
The Brewers Association CEO, John Preston, is pleading for some relief he said, “Australians are taxed on beer more than almost any other nation. We have seen almost 20 increases in Australia’s beer tax over the past decade alone. Brewers and pub and club operators were extremely disappointed the former Government did not deliver on a proposed reduction in beer tax at this year’s March Budget.”
He also said, “For a small pub, club, or other venue the latest tax hike will mean an increase of more than $2700 a year in their tax bill – at a time when they are still struggling to deal with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.”
He added, “This is a problem that the new Treasurer has inherited from his predecessors, and there are many competing demands on the Budget. Nonetheless, we believe there is a strong case for beer tax relief to be provided by the new Federal Government – with the hidden beer tax to go up again in February 2023.”
Though Treasurer Jim Chalmers has pledged to look at potential relief on beer tax but has not committed to eliminating it.
Sadly, beer tax and other tax increases are not the only problems Aussies face. Inflation is very high and is running at the fastest pace in over two decades. Things haven’t been this serious since Australia introduced the goods and services tax that increased prices by 10% overnight in June 2001.
Even in 2001, the prices rose only 6.1% compared to the previous year. Now, the last financial year’s data shows that prices have risen the same amount. The cost of living is also high, and the rental crisis is also making things worse. The beer tax might not seem very serious when you think of all that. But it is!
Share this on social media
