Francois Hollande Pushes for 160pc Rise in Beer Taxes
Francois Hollande Pushes for 160pc Rise in Beer Taxes
President Francois Hollande is pushing through legislation to increase taxes on beer by 160pc to help fund struggling social programmes as France tries to contain a budget deficit hit hard by the economic crisis.
The tax would affect local brews and the 30pc of imported beer the French drink, AP reported.
The change means the price of a beer will increase by about 20pc in bars and supermarkets, said Jacqueline Lariven, spokeswoman for the French brewer’s federation Brasseurs de France.
The Brewers of Europe trade group called the measure a “kick in the teeth”, especially since brewers have seen beer production plummet by 6pc and consumption by 8pc in the EU since the region’s economic crisis began in 2008.
Outside France, Belgium and Germany would be worst affected once the new legislation kicks in, said Pierre-Olivier Bergeron, head of the Brewers of Europe.