Norway: Contraband is on rise and threatens the brewery industry
The brewery industry claims the increased smuggling of beer is a threat to jobs at Norwegian breweries, and it criticises the Government for maintaining the high alcohol tax, The Norway Post communicated on January 11.
Ringnes has cut arpound 500 jobs over the last three years. At the Hansa Borg Breweries around 200 man years have been removed since 2003, Aftenposten reports. Does one really not realize what threat smuggling and high taxes pose to the brewery industry in Norway?, asks Ringnes Breweries' CEO Jan Bodd.
Sooner or later this "import volume" (smuggling) must lead to lower alcohol taxes. Otherwise the consequence will be massive closures of Norwegian breweries, says Hansa Borg CEO Lars Midtgaard.
On January 10 The Norway Post reported that the smuggling of beer and wine to Norway has increased fivefold since the year 2000. The amount of confiscated beer increased by 42 % last year compared with 2004.
Most of the large seizures were made on the border with Sweden, in Oestfold and Hedemark counties. Customs Director Marit Wiig is concerned: “We use more time on the private smuggling, leaving less resources for the professionals and narcotis control. The Customs would wish to use their resources on what the Government has given highest priority, and that is narcotics.”
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