Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Short the French: Brewers battle 150% Tax Increase

Just another milepost ( borne kilométrique?) in our Short the French series.
From CNBC:
Proposals by the French government to increase the tax levy on alcohol by 150 percent have met with fierce criticism, with one brewer telling CNBC firms are joining forces to fight the plans.

Research firm Bernstein Research has estimated that the beer excise duty, which could take effect from the start of next year, would rise by around 150 percent sending the retail price of beer up by 15 percent.

Danish brewer Carlsberg  is just one company set to be affected and its French subsidiary Brasseries Kronenbourg told CNBC how firms are together in their cause.

“All the brewers in France are united, under the French Brewer Association's banner, in fighting the French government’s proposal to increase excise duty,” a spokesperson said....MORE
Fraternité  in the service of Liberté, or in the words of Fox news:
EU beer brewers refuse to swallow French suds tax