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| French brewers hit by 160% rise in beer tax | French brewers hit by 160% rise in beer tax |
| (5 months later) | |
| The French president, François Hollande, is pushing through legislation to increase taxes on beer by 160% to help fund social programmes, as France struggles to contain a budget deficit hit hard by the economic crisis. | The French president, François Hollande, is pushing through legislation to increase taxes on beer by 160% to help fund social programmes, as France struggles to contain a budget deficit hit hard by the economic crisis. |
| The tax increase will affect local brews and the 30% of imported beer the French drink. The change will push up the price of a beer by about 20% in bars and supermarkets, said Jacqueline Lariven, spokeswoman for the French brewer's federation, Brasseurs de France. | The tax increase will affect local brews and the 30% of imported beer the French drink. The change will push up the price of a beer by about 20% in bars and supermarkets, said Jacqueline Lariven, spokeswoman for the French brewer's federation, Brasseurs de France. |
| The Brewers of Europe trade group described the measure as a "kick in the teeth", as it follows a 6% fall in beer production and an 8% drop in consumption in the EU since the region's debt crisis began in 2008. | The Brewers of Europe trade group described the measure as a "kick in the teeth", as it follows a 6% fall in beer production and an 8% drop in consumption in the EU since the region's debt crisis began in 2008. |
| Outside France, Belgium and Germany were likely to be hardest hit by the new legislation, said Pierre-Olivier Bergeron, head of the Brewers of Europe. | Outside France, Belgium and Germany were likely to be hardest hit by the new legislation, said Pierre-Olivier Bergeron, head of the Brewers of Europe. |
| "This measure will affect all brewers, including small entrepreneurs," he said. "This is a very shortsighted approach by penalising one sector." | "This measure will affect all brewers, including small entrepreneurs," he said. "This is a very shortsighted approach by penalising one sector." |
| President Hollande said he hoped to raise €480m (£300m) from the tax increase on beer to boost medical insurance and elderly care. | President Hollande said he hoped to raise €480m (£300m) from the tax increase on beer to boost medical insurance and elderly care. |
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