Albanese Government Lifts Packaged Beer Excise Again After 86 Rises as Australia Tops Global Beer Prices
Updated
Updated · Nine · Jul 22
Albanese Government Lifts Packaged Beer Excise Again After 86 Rises as Australia Tops Global Beer Prices
3 articles · Updated · Nine · Jul 22
Summary
Australia’s biannual excise on bottled and canned beer will rise again on August 3, extending a run of 86 consecutive increases for packaged beer as brewers warn more costs will be passed to drinkers.
A roughly 3.5% increase is being budgeted by some producers, though the final indexation will be announced only days before and is set in line with inflation.
Deutsche Bank’s July 13 report ranked Australia the world’s most expensive country for beer, with Melbourne first and Sydney second among 69 major cities measured by the cost of five beers.
Brewers say standard bottled and canned beer prices have climbed about 18% to 25% since 2021, driven by excise, production and transport costs that are squeezing smaller local producers.
Industry groups want the Albanese government to freeze all alcohol excise—not just draught beer, which is frozen until 2027—saying higher take-home prices are cutting consumption and could push buyers toward illegal alcohol.