Beer hike warning for Aussie pubgoers as prices set to rise again [Video]

The tax on beer is forecast to increase again next week, putting further pressure on beleaguered small brewers – and, potentially, prices at the tap.

According to KPMG data, about 700 Australian craft brewers contribute an annual $1.93 billion to the economy.

They employ more than 10,000 people – more than half (51 per cent) of the entire beer industry.

The number of businesses in the craft brewing industry has surged by an incredible eighty per cent in just the past eight years – but the boom is suddenly deflating, with at least 20 closing in the past year.

Many struggle against the larger breweries, where production costs are cheaper, and the cost of living crisis is squashing Australians’ spending.

But a central reason so many craft breweries are struggling to keep afloat is the consistent increase of the beer excise, which rises every six months after with CPI increases.

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