“Riesenschlag”: Why your beer schooner will be much more expensive

Aussie drinkers will spend more on their beers next week as another tax hike on the amber liquid takes effect on Wednesday – and brewers are warning the rapidly rising tax could soon take the price of a schooner to $12.

Excise duty on draft and packaged lager is set to rise nearly 3.7 percent on Wednesday, after rising nearly 4 percent just six months ago on August 1.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Beer prices are going to go up.

Check out the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >>

The alcohol tax rises twice a year and is tied to the consumer price index, which rose this week to its highest level in 30 years.

Australia’s tax authority said the excise duty would result in a $2.06 tariff increase on bottles and cans of the average beer per liter and a $1.45 tariff increase on the average keg of beer per liter.

The threatened surge has sparked alarm from the Brewers Association of Australia, which wrote to federal treasurer Jim Chalmers to warn him the hike could bring schooner prices up to $12, The Daily Telegraph reported.

“People are already paying $8 a schooner in parts of Sydney – if this keeps going up it will soon be over $12,” said John Preston, CEO of the association.

He said it was a “big hit” to drinkers, pubs and clubs alike.

“These are hidden tax increases that have increased every six months for the last 20 years,” Preston wrote.

“We think beer drinkers are now really starting to notice when the price of their pint, pot, schooner or slab goes up because of another tax hike, and venues tell us the record hikes are making it harder to get people back through the door. “

The Telegraph reported that the Brewers Association has asked the government to consider freezing taxes on bottled beer and halving the tax on beer sold in clubs and pubs.

The latest tax hike comes into effect on Wednesday 1 August.