In this article, we are going to discuss the 5 countries with the highest beer taxes in the world. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of the global beer market, the largest beer producer in the world, the effect of taxes on alcohol abuse, the country with the lowest beer tax in the world, and the rising prices of beer, head to 20 Countries with Highest Beer Taxes in the World.
5. Turkey
Percentage of Tax on Beer in 2022: 51.39%
Alcohol makers in Turkey have faced an increasingly onerous tax burden and other restrictions under the rule of President Tayyip Erdogan, including a ban on online sales, a prohibition on marketing etc. The final nail in the coffin could be a planned new regulation that requires all alcohol producers to provide financial collateral of $1.7 million, to cover tax or administrative fines that they may face in the future.
4. Myanmar
Percentage of Tax on Beer in 2022: 57.24%
Brewing industry giants like Heineken, Carlsberg, and ThaiBev came under fire last year after it was revealed that these companies are paying up to $155 million in annual taxes to the ruling military junta to maintain a profitable presence in Myanmar. This comes after the war crimes and human rights atrocities perpetrated by the regime, following its 2021 coup, triggered the exit of many multinational companies from the country.
3. Sweden
Percentage of Tax on Beer in 2022: 58.51%
An increasing number of people are quitting alcohol in Sweden, with the Central Association for Alcohol and Narcotics Information revealing that the percentage of people in the country who had not consumed alcohol in the last 30 days increased from 23% to 25% in 2022. According to a recent study, this change can be attributed to a decrease in alcohol imports from neighboring countries with lower alcohol taxes.
At a 20% rate in 2022, Sweden ranks among the Countries with the Highest VAT on Alcohol in Europe.
2. Norway
Percentage of Tax on Beer in 2022: 60.06%
Due to its high levies on alcohol, Norway boasted the lowest per capita alcohol consumption among all Nordic countries in 2020, with 7.2 liters of pure alcohol consumed per person. Tax is levied on all alcoholic beverages containing more than 0.7% ABV. In 2020, the Norwegian government reduced the taxes on beer and wine as part of a larger effort to spur consumer spending.
1. Egypt
Percentage of Tax on Beer in 2022: 71.55%
As Egypt is a majority Muslim country, many locals abstain from alcohol completely. However, it is possible to find liquor stores and bars in some upmarket neighborhoods, and many hotels and resorts also serve alcohol. In 2018, the Egyptian government increased the tax on the sales of the local production of alcohol by over 60%, while tax rates were straight up quadrupled for imported alcoholic beverages.
Beer is the most popular beverage in the North African country, accounting for 54% of all alcohol consumption.
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