Cheers to finally putting a cap on beer prices

Shire venues

Shaun Hollis

Journalist

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Oaks Resort barman Lorenzo Loratro has finally witnessed some relief from twice-yearly beer price rises. Picture: Shaun Hollis

Automatic six-monthly beer-price rises have been suspended for two years by the Federal Government.

The regular increases, which have been happening in step with inflation since 1983 due to government regulations, have been a longtime bugbear of the Australian Hotel’s Association.

AHA chief executive Stephen Ferguson welcomed news the draught-beer excise will be frozen for the next two years.

“This is a win for the millions of men and women who like to go down to their local and have a beer,” Mr Ferguson said. 

“There’s no better place to have a beer than down at the local pub – they are the hubs of their communities.”

Mr Ferguson said the tax-rate policy in regards to beer prices has been encouraging people to stay at home drinking alone rather than getting out and socialising in venues.

Anyone who drinks at a local pub or club knows only too well how tap-beer prices have been going up regularly for decades now.

Excise-duty rates on alcohol are reviewed every February and August, with the tax applied depending on the alcohol strength of the beer.

The latest increase was the 84th price rise since the excise was introduced in 1983.

One of the many Port Douglas venues to be hit with the regular ongoing tax rises is the Oaks Resort. 

General manager Paul Parrant said he was hopeful the beer price would now stay steady for the next two years.

“It’s great that some of these big companies will be helping us out by not increasing pricing,” he said.

“And thanks to the government.

“It’s good to hear.”

The beer-price freeze does not apply to canned and bottled beers.

 

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