Yahoo Finance Sneaky new tax will hit Aussies like me harder than ever: 'Enough is enough'
It's a pure revenue raiser. Just outrageous, writes Adam Lucius.
Forget about the pub with no beer. From Monday, Australians will walk into the pub that's so dear.
The second of a twice-yearly rise in excise duty on beer and other alcoholic drinks is due on August 5, meaning publicans and bottle shop owners will likely pass on the extra cost to consumers.
This is a sneaky little tax imposed by the Federal government - based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – and shunted onto us poor punters every six months.
It's a pure revenue raiser. Just outrageous.
As if the cost of living wasn't biting hard enough, now we'll fork out even more to unwind over a Friday night schooner or glass of cab sav.
Enough is enough.
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It's time this tax was stripped back to make it fairer on those of us who like a drink – and to the outlets serving us. We could cop one increase a year, but two is just sheer gouging.
Enjoying a couple of quite ones with friends at the pub is about as Aussie as it gets.
But there's plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting the assault on our pockets is limiting visits to pubs and clubs.
People are staying at home rather than taking out a second mortgage to pay for a few beers. It's ripping at our social fabric.
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Beer prices are a hot topic of conversation where I drink.
You are doing well to get any change from $10 for a schooner and, if your preferred drop is of the craft variety, expect to pay even more.
Venue loyalty has gone out the saloon door as prices rise, with any hike testing drinkers' allegiances. Regulars have become semi-regulars.
Brewers Association CEO John Preston summed it up this way: "It's just got to the stage after successive increases, where it's really now starting to hurt beer drinkers."
Craft brew triples in price
Russ Pearce is one of those feeling the pain. An accountant by day and frontman for an '80s tribute band by night, he's in a unique position to comment on the impact price rises are having.
"Four years ago, we used to drink at this bar after gigs and they'd charge $5 for a 300ml can of a local craft brew," he told Yahoo Finance.
"That same beer at the same bar is now $15, so that was the end of that.
"I'm in the middle of tax return time and am hearing first-hand from clients about how tough people are doing it.
"Many have already put a hold on going out because of the cost and this latest increase will hurt further."
The father-of-three has cut back on his own socialising, taking it in-house.
"We used to go the pub to watch the footy and have three or four schooners, but those costs start to add up quickly," Russ said. "Now I will have mates around to watch at home with a six-pack.
"It's the same deal with nights out – more and more people are drinking at home and then sitting on one or two drinks when they go to a venue."
'Too expensive to go out'
Brad Coleman is surrounded by pubs in Sydney's Surry Hills, but he rarely ventures into any of them.
"There are probably half a dozen within walking distance but it's just too expensive to go out," he said.
"Even an average night could set you back a couple of hundred and now this tax will only add to the cost. It makes more sense to buy a case of beer and have some friends around."
It's all enough to drive you to drink – if only you could afford it!
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