Booze industry in a froth over $115m tax hike

Small hospitality businesses and brewers could be hit hardest. (Image: BusinessDesk)

Wed, 31 May 2023

Beer drinkers will need to front up with an extra $28.9 million next year on the back of an inflation-linked increase in sin taxes of 6.65% from July 1. The excise tax increase, which applies to both domestic manufacture of alcohol and duty on imported beer, wine and spirits of more than 1.5% alcohol by volume, is expected to net an extra $86m a year across all locally produced alcoholic drinks. Successive governments have hiked the booze tax – aimed at moderating consumption and encouraging a switch to lower-alcohol beverages &ndash...

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