Beer Store campaign to warn customers about upcoming price hike

The next time you’re in The Beer Store, expect to see posters notifying customers of an upcoming rise in prices.

The federal government’s alcohol excise tax increases every year based on inflation, but The Beer Store says this year’s hike will be the biggest in 40 years.

“TBS believes it is important to tell our customers of the Government of Canada’s decision to increase beer taxes by 4.7 per cent on April 1,” said Roy Benin, The Beer Store’s president and chief executive officer.

Last year, the Government of Canada capped the increase at two per cent, in line with the Bank of Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) target. Benin would like to see something similar this year.

“We applaud the Ontario government’s announcement of a two-year freeze on provincial beer taxes,” he said.

"We urge the Government of Canada to implement a similar freeze, beginning with not increasing the excise tax planned for April 1 or, at a minimum, impose a (two) cent cap.”

The Beer Store says provincial and federal taxes make up about 43 per cent of the retail price of beer in Ontario.

Locally, The Beer Store operates two locations in Innisfil and one site in Bradford.