Brace yourselves, merrymakers! Your favourite Christmas beer could cost you more this year
- Replies 7
We all look forward to Christmas Day — it's a time to relax and celebrate with family and friends, often with a few drinks involved.
After all, there’s nothing quite like cracking open a cold one with loved ones during the holiday season, right?
But if you're planning on indulging in a cold beer or two soon, you might want to brace yourself for a bit of bad news.
It turns out that the price of your beloved Christmas tipple could be set to soar by as much as $10 per case shortly, thanks to none other than… the weather.
More specifically, the floods on Australia's east coast.
NSW Farmers Grains Committee Chair Justin Everitt said that crops such as barley have been inundated with rain and equipment such as tractors are bogged down. Many roads have also been blocked as a result of flooding.
This unfortunate combo means that supplies of barley, a key ingredient in beer, are running low. And when supply goes down, prices go up.
‘Barley might be the one where people buying their beer might find it a lot more — the price for barley has gone up for quite some time,’ Everitt said.
‘So that’s probably where you will see an increase in beer prices. Once the breweries’ costs increase … they’ll pass those costs to the consumer.’
However, according to an unnamed industry source interviewed by news.com.au, breweries are well-stocked with the barley needed to keep producing beer.
Aside from the weather, two other factors are set to make beer pricier according to Queensland University of Technology Marketing Professor Gary Mortimer.
‘The second reason is the increased production costs, including higher prices for water, electricity and fuel for logistics.’
‘And finally, the alcohol excess applied every six months, which is currently 3.8 per cent.’
‘It’s a triple whammy.’
So it looks like we might have to start forking out more money for our frothy fix sooner rather than later…
But fret not, as things aren’t so bleak for beer lovers.
Mortimer says one way to cheat the looming price hike for beer is to opt for mid-strength or alcohol-free beers as apparently, the alcohol excess tax is applied differently across many products.
Earlier this year, beer products saw their highest tax increase in decades at 4% (about $2.50 more per litre), which raised concerns about pints costing as much as $15 at locals across the country.
Well, considering what’s possibly in store for avid drinkers, you might want to turn over a new leaf (or a glass?) and just ditch beer entirely — especially if you’re one of these six types of people, according to a doctor.
So, what do you think? How much of an impact will high beer prices have on your holiday gatherings?
Share your thoughts and opinions below!
Source: YouTube/7News Australia
After all, there’s nothing quite like cracking open a cold one with loved ones during the holiday season, right?
But if you're planning on indulging in a cold beer or two soon, you might want to brace yourself for a bit of bad news.
It turns out that the price of your beloved Christmas tipple could be set to soar by as much as $10 per case shortly, thanks to none other than… the weather.
More specifically, the floods on Australia's east coast.
NSW Farmers Grains Committee Chair Justin Everitt said that crops such as barley have been inundated with rain and equipment such as tractors are bogged down. Many roads have also been blocked as a result of flooding.
Bad weather is seen to affect barley crops growing in Australia’s east. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/DESPIERRES Cecile
This unfortunate combo means that supplies of barley, a key ingredient in beer, are running low. And when supply goes down, prices go up.
‘Barley might be the one where people buying their beer might find it a lot more — the price for barley has gone up for quite some time,’ Everitt said.
‘So that’s probably where you will see an increase in beer prices. Once the breweries’ costs increase … they’ll pass those costs to the consumer.’
However, according to an unnamed industry source interviewed by news.com.au, breweries are well-stocked with the barley needed to keep producing beer.
Aside from the weather, two other factors are set to make beer pricier according to Queensland University of Technology Marketing Professor Gary Mortimer.
‘The second reason is the increased production costs, including higher prices for water, electricity and fuel for logistics.’
‘And finally, the alcohol excess applied every six months, which is currently 3.8 per cent.’
‘It’s a triple whammy.’
So it looks like we might have to start forking out more money for our frothy fix sooner rather than later…
A confluence of factors has led some analysts to believe beer could go up by as much as $10 per case. Credit: Pexels/Tembela Bohle
But fret not, as things aren’t so bleak for beer lovers.
Mortimer says one way to cheat the looming price hike for beer is to opt for mid-strength or alcohol-free beers as apparently, the alcohol excess tax is applied differently across many products.
Earlier this year, beer products saw their highest tax increase in decades at 4% (about $2.50 more per litre), which raised concerns about pints costing as much as $15 at locals across the country.
So, what do you think? How much of an impact will high beer prices have on your holiday gatherings?
Share your thoughts and opinions below!
Source: YouTube/7News Australia
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