Belgian beers hit again by French tax?

Second blow in 2013

The increased taxes from earlier this year led to higher prices and
“as expected, lower beer consumption rates” in France, according to the Belgian
Brewers association: French beer
consumption went down 10 % this year. The French government had hoped to
get more revenue out of the duties, but due to lower consumption rates (and, therefore, lower income) it is now
looking for other possible sources of income.

This new income “has apparently been found in the application of a 2005 law
meant to tax the sugar levels in
so-called ‘alcopops’ (a mixture of soda and alcohol)”, says Sven Gatz,
Belgian Brewers’ CEO: “Up until this point, the law was only used for ‘alcopops’, but it
seems the French government is now targeting residual sugar levels in beer.
Even though most maltose gets turned into alcohol during the fermentation
process, nearly all beers still have a certain amount of residual sugar after
fermentation.” Especially the fruit
beers are likely to suffer under the new tax, possibly costing up to 2 euro more per glass.

Futile fight?

62 % of the beer Belgium produced last year was
exported, most of which went to France. Avoiding a second price increase in less than a year
is therefore paramount for the Belgian brewers, who are happy that Minister of Finances Koen Geens
has written a letter to his French counterpart to tackle this alcohol problem.

The elevation of the elevated duties earlier this year resulted in Prime
Minister Elio Di Rupo going to Paris to plead in favour of Belgium’s brewers.
President Hollande did not have any sympathy for the Belgian cause. Gatz still
has faith however, as he stated in newspaper Het Nieuwsblad: “Even someone who has no
understanding of beer must admit there
is absolutely no correlation between Belgian fruit beers and so-called alcopops.”

(Translated by Gary Peeters)