Switzerland: New beer taxation system

As from 1st July, the beer will be taxed according to its alcohol percentage, Bluewin published June 11. Switzerland is going to apply the same system existent in European Union, but consumers will not be forced to pay more for a beer.

The tax will increase to 16.88 francs per hl for light beer (2.4 -2.8%), 25.32 francs for normal or special beer (4.8 � 5.2%) and 33.76 francs for strong beer (more than 5.8%). The beer with alcohol percentage less than 0.5% is exonerated from tax.

After the reform, only strong and special beers could be 1% more expensive. Tax facilities could reach 40% for breweries which yearly production is under 55,000 hl.

The beer tax yields 100 mil francs per year for the Confederation. The system change is not supposed to bring other incomes.