At the Prancing Pony Brewery, we stand behind the Independent Brewers Association and the call to save independent breweries. For our Government to act now, and this is why.
1. Breweries have a unproportionally high 'additional tax' in the form of Excise. Excise increases twice a year, it is the 3rd highest in the world, and represents the major ingredient in beer in Australia. The Excise tax requires a fundamental reform to come in line with the rest of the world.
2. Our government needs to remember that the 600 plus independent breweries provide over 50% of all Beer jobs, while only representing around 5% of all Australian Beer.
3. The Independent breweries and their venues add around $2billion to the economy.
4. Indie brewers are innovative and responsive. Beer is the beverage of choice for moderate alcohol consumption and Indie brewers have been innovative in creating many nonalcoholic options for customers, which clearly sits high on our Government's Agenda on health measures in alcohol.
5. We are so much more than just a manufacturing enterprise, we create events, festivals, we are the social meeting place, and many, if not all, Indie breweries are engaged with local charities and support their community, the arts and music in a way no other business does.
6. We create 'first' jobs for Aussie youth - while on school holidays, or after they leave school in the form of dishies, glassies, in the kitchen or in the production.
7. We put Karma kegs on and donate the proceeds to many worthwhile causes, and we have the back of many patrons that may need a bit more than a pint when they visit their local brewery.
8. We are resilient, and we are very much part of the Australian way of life that makes Australia authentically unique, BUT - We can't do it without you.
We need support, and we need it now, so please repost and comment, so this discussion will become more than a discussion and will lead to a serious consideration of the IBA's proposal to our government.
We are not asking to abolish taxes, we just ask to receive a fair go in running our businesses.
If you can support your local brewery, please do it in any way you can, get a pint of beer or drink a non-beer, buy some merchandise if you need a new T'shirt, have a meal and buy a 4 pack while you are there or simply drop in say 'Hi'.
Thank you to Beer and Brewer for this article.
#askforlocal
#askforindiebeers
