Australia facing $15 pints as largest beer tax hike in decades looms

The tax is set to increase by four per cent, or $2.50 more per liter, marking the largest jump in 30 years.

Buying your own drinks at the bottle shop is no way to avoid the hike either, with taxes on a carton to rise to $18.80.

The Brewers Association is pleading for some relief, saying people could be paying up to $15 a pint under the new increase.

“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,” CEO John Preston said.

“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.”

Preston said it wouldn’t just be pub patrons affected.

“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 on-going impacts of the pandemic,” he said.

“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.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has pledged to look at potential relief, but has not committed to axing the tax.