Major plea over crippling Aussie beer tax

Brewers have faced growing uncertainty in the past 18 months as ever increasing alcohol excises and rising costs crippled about 20 independent brewers post Covid, following a decade of success in the craft beer sector.

Independent Brewers Association chief executive officer Kylie Lethbridge said these excise hikes might be able to be absorbed by the foreign owned duopoly that controls the Australian beer market – but independent brewers were different.

“Our breweries cannot keep absorbing the ballooning costs of making beer without increasing the price of their beer – this means, being able to support your local will be soon out of reach for many and job losses will continue,” she said.

“Every cent that independent brewers spend on excise is money they cannot invest back into their staff, innovation, sustain...
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