Today the European Commission acknowledged receipt of an official complaint submitted by The Brewers of Europe in the context of the 160% tax hike on beer sold in France. The European Commission will consider whether the measure, which came into force on 1 January 2013, infringes EU Law.
Despite beer only representing just over 15% of the French alcoholic drinks market and per capita beer consumption already being the second lowest in the EU, beer was the sole alcoholic drink singled out for a tax increase when the measure was approved by the French Parliament at the end of 2012.
On 8 July 2013, Brasseurs de France announced that beer production in France destined for the domestic market in the first six months of 2013 was down 16.5% in comparison to the same period in 2012.
At the current stage of the process The Brewers of Europe is not in a position to disclose the contents of the complaint submitted to the European Commission.
|
Brewery size |
2012 rate |
2013 rate |
Increase |
|
In hectolitres (100l) |
In Euros per % ABV per hectolitre (1OO litres) |
Percentage |
|
|
≤ 10 000 hl |
1.38 € |
3.6 € |
160 % |
|
10 001 – 50 000 hl |
1.64 € |
3.6 € |
120 % |
|
50 001 – 200 000 hl |
2.07 € |
3.6 € |
75 % |
|
> 200 000 hl |
2.75 € |
7.2 € |
160% |
|
Beers ≤ 2.8% ABV regardless of brewery size |
1.38 € |
3.6€ |
160% |
About The Brewers of Europe
For more than a half century The Brewers of Europe has been the Brussels-based voice of the European brewing sector towards the European institutions and international organisations. Founded in 1958, it has 29 members, comprising 25 national brewer associations from the EU, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Among the roughly 4000 brewers across Europe, the vast majority are small and medium-sized, local and family-run businesses. 2 million jobs are created by the European brewing sector.