Belgian brewers do now not need to understand about increases in excise obligation

The Belgian brewers are asking policymakers to stay far from will increase in excise duty, or maybe greater some distance-accomplishing measures in the context of the interfederal alcohol plan. They speak of ‘fausses bonnes idées’, which “could be the last straw for some brewers inside the modern-day weather and put a centuries-antique subculture, our craftsmanship and our across the world acclaimed beer lifestyle at hazard.”

The brewers are taking stock of the state of affairs following the Belgian Beer Weekend, which kicks off on Friday at the Grand Place in Brussels. They are confident inside the future, however nevertheless face a number of challenges. Reference is made to the corona pandemic and the battle in Ukraine that keep to have repercussions on power, uncooked cloth and packaging charges. “Furthermore, in a context where buying strength is underneath strain, our brewers locate it hard to hold sales volumes and margins”, says Krishan Maudgal, director of non-profit Belgian Brewers.

New policies, as an example in the field of fitness and labelling, are also a venture. “We stand aspect by using aspect with policymakers in the combat towards alcohol abuse and for extra transparency towards customers,” says Maudgal. “But we additionally need to make sure that the policy does not detract from the monetary, social and cultural fee of our region.”

Almost returned to pre-corona degree

The stability sheet for the Belgian brewers seemed pretty fantastic final year. At 6.9 million hectoliters, beer intake in our united states of america truely returned to pre-coronavirus stages. The variety of breweries accelerated to 430, in spite of the closure of a dozen breweries.

The festivities of the Belgian Beer Weekend kick off this afternoon in St. Michael’s and St. Gudula’s Cathedral with the solemn party of St. Arnold, the patron saint of brewers. Traditionally, that is accompanied via an academic session inside the Brussels town corridor.

This weekend, fifty three breweries could be present on the Grand Place in Brussels, precise for approximately 520 Belgian beers.