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HERE
FOR
BEER

A community of Canadian Beer Advocates

Being “Here for Beer” means joining together with other Canadians from coast to coast to support Canada’s great brewing heritage.

We are a community that shares a common goal of promoting the adoption of modern and responsible beer regulation at the municipal, provincial, and federal level. Here for Beer unites all aspects of beer’s production, distribution and sale including brewers, farmers, maltsters, retailers, bartenders, servers, and adult consumers.

By working collectively with a common purpose, we can make a real difference and ensure a strong Canadian brewing sector for generations to come.

ELIMINATE AUTOMATIC ANNUAL BEER TAX INCREASES

 

KEEP BEER AFFORDABLE FOR HARD-WORKING CANADIANS

In 2017 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s then Finance Minister introduced automatic annual increases to federal beer taxes, a so called beer “escalator tax”.

Since that time, federal beer taxes increased eight times, by a staggering 16%, with another automatic increase set to go into effect on April 1st, 2025.

Without any debate or vote by our elected Members of Parliament, beer taxes were increased throughout the COVID pandemic and the current affordability crisis and are about to go up again.

Nearly 50% of the price of beer in Canada are taxes, the highest among G7 countries and just about the very highest in the world. The federal portion of Canada’s beer tax rate is double that of the United States, putting Canada beer taxes out of step with the rest of the world.

Canada is now threatened by new tariffs from our largest trading partner. In this time of unprecedented economic challenges, it’s time to stop the April 1st beer tax increase and eliminate beer’s escalator tax.

More Reasons Why We Need a Fairer Tax Framework

BECOME A CANADIAN BEER ADVOCATE

Learn more about Canadian
beer taxes

Stand Up & Speak Out, Email your MP

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BREWING PROSPERITY ACROSS CANADA

Canada’s beer industry is an important economic engine in communities large and small, urban and rural, across the country from coast-to-coast. It’s time to repeal automatic beer tax increases and instead keep life affordable for hard-working Canadians and protect jobs across beer’s added-value supply chain.

88% of all beer consumed in Canada in 2024, was brewed domestically.
There are breweries in almost all communities, from coast to coast. More than 1,300 breweries are currently operating in communities across Canada.
24,000 Canadians are directly employed by brewing companies
Canadian breweries contribute $3.1 billion annually to the nation’s GDP, nearly three times the contribution of Canadian wineries and distilleries combined
In a typical year, nearly a quarter of all beer sold in Canada is consumed outside the home at restaurants, bars, and social activities like concerts and sporting events
The Canadian brewing industry support 149,000 jobs across its value chain, from restaurants and hospitality to tourism, agriculture, and transportation, the beer industry is a key contributor to Canada’s economy
Over 80% of the value of brewing inputs are sourced locally in Canada.  Canadian brewers purchase more than 350,000 tonnes of malting barley and other grains from local farmers annually.
Breweries invest in their local communities, sponsoring events, supporting charities, and contributing to their economic and social fabric vibrancy
The hospitality sector relies heavily on beer sales, as it is the most ordered alcoholic beverage at restaurants and  bars and typically generates higher operator profit margins than available on prepared meals and food
In 2017, the Trudeau Liberal government mandated automatic annual increases to the beer tax rate, tied to inflation, without allowing debate or a vote by elected officials prior to these increases coming into effect
Since 2017, federal beer tax rates have increased automatically 9 times by a total of 14%
The federal component of the Canadian beer tax rate is double the rate in the United States
Another automatic federal beer tax rate increase is scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2025. These automatic tax increases disproportionately affect Canadian consumers, making beer less affordable for everyday enjoyment
High beer taxes place significant financial strain on Canada’s brewing industry, which is a vital contributor to the economy and supports over 149,000 jobs across the country
Automatic inflation-fueling beer tax increases exacerbate cost-of-living challenges for Canadians already dealing with higher costs on other essential goods and services
Automatic inflation-based beer tax hikes undermine Parliamentary oversight and democratic accountability by allowing tax changes to proceed without a vote or debate in the House of Commons and Senate
Since 2017, due in part to the federal government’s beer tax policy, beer prices have risen by 20% at restaurants and over 16% at retail
Since 2017, beer sales have declined by 13%, with draught beer sales at restaurants and bars dropping by 26%
Despite declining sales, Canada’s brewing industry continues to invest in innovation, including new product lines and sustainability initiatives, to remain competitive in a challenging market
Rising input costs, including grains, energy, and packaging materials, have further compounded pricing pressures on Canadian brewers, making it impossible to absorb further tax increases

Footnotes

[1]Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0489-01  Labour statistics consistent with the System of National Accounts (SNA), by job category and industry
[1]Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0434-03  Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by industry, annual average (x 1,000,000)
[1]Beer Canada Monthly Sales Report

REACH YOUR MP

Every MP has a voice and wants to hear what’s important to their local businesses and voters. Tell them you want them to support a freeze on beer taxes!


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Email your MP and the Minister of Finance to ask them to stop the automatic inflation-indexed increases to beer excise duties.

Email Your MP Learn More Here

OUR ADVOCACY

In addition to direct advocacy of elected officials and their staff, it’s also important for us to make our case for modern and responsible beer regulation including fair taxes with the public and the media in our public communications.

OUR SHARED VISION

Beer is known as a drink of moderation and has been an integral part of backyard barbecues, summers at the cottage, concerts, festivals, sporting events and anytime friends get together to celebrate life for generations.

Today, Canadian beer is made in every region and corner of the country generating positive economic, social, and other benefits to communities large and small.

Beer is an adult beverage and should be bought and consumed only for and by those of the legal drinking age and always enjoyed responsibly and in moderation.

ADD YOUR VOICE FOR CHANGE

Your favourite pint is crafted by master brewers using barley and other grains grown by Canadian family farms. It’s delivered by rail or truck to your local alcohol retailer, but taxes make up the largest portion of the price you pay —a rate significantly higher than in most other countries, including five times higher than in the U.S.

Each year on April 1st, federal beer taxes automatically increase, adding to the cost of beer without debate or a vote in Parliament. These constant increases make beer less affordable for Canadians and put unnecessary additional costs on an industry that supports local jobs, family farms, and the hospitality sector.

Ask your MP to scrap the automatic beer tax increases in the next Federal budget

At 0% of the retail price of beer on average, Canada has the highest beer tax rate among G7 countries. Canada’s beer tax policy stands in stark contrast to other G7 nations that prioritize industry growth and consumer affordability.

THERE ARE BREWERIES IN ALMOST ALL CANADIAN COMMUNITIES

Support an industry that is connected to over 149,000 Canadian jobs

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FROM YOU!

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