Dutch beer sales collapse amidst crippling tax hikes

Dutch beer sales have nosedived 5.1%, with non-alcoholic beer in particular plummeting 9.4%, according to Nederlandse Brouwers. According to the Dutch brewers association, the overall decline in beer sales is in the country which struck during the first half of 2023 is due to the 8.4% increase in excise duty on alcoholic beer and an almost 200% increase in consumption tax for non-alcoholic beer, pushing prices up. Reports via Food Ingredients First (FIF) said that the association has revealed that sales for Pils and special beer were down by 4.4% and 4.6%, respectively with government taxes and bad weather creating the perfect storm. The association also identified that people also notably drank less due to the poor weather, which led to fewer opportunities for barbecues and drinking in pub gardens. Local reports outlined that, typically, the UEFA European Football Championship would have generated a boost in beer sales, but this year it did not help sales. This, along with ...