Australia’s beer tax ‘highway robbery’ as average Australians ‘suffer’ from excise increase

Sky News host Steve Price has slammed Australia’s alcohol tax as “highway robbery” because it is the “average folk who suffer” from the excise increase. Beer and spirit lovers are set to be slugged more than $15 for a pint and $24 for a negroni when the increase in the tax on alcohol comes next month, in another blow to Australia’s cost of living. “That's highway robbery – I looked back a bit … you know what you paid in 1970 for a schooner of beer? You paid 86 cents – now, adjusted for today's prices that would be $5.58, not $14,” Mr Price said. “Governments are taking the you know what to beer drinkers and it’s about to get worse with a February excise increase next month. “So much for Labor looking after the workers, the blue-collar voters – beer, petrol, smokes, and food prices are all through the roof. “Soon, you will need to be on a six-figure salary to just go to the pub.”