Alcohol tax: more time to comment

BIG JUMP PROPOSED: DEADLINE EXTENDED BY 2 MONTHS

- Jarryd Westerdale

The deadline for comment on the taxation of alcohol discussion paper has been extended by National Treasury.

Submissions on a proposal to increase the excise tax on alcoholic beverages were due by 13 December, but Treasury has given concerned parties until 14 February to comment.

South Africans consume colossal quantities of liquor and traders see the move as a cash grab, while researchers see it as a way of curbing consumption.

South Africa's liquor is taxed at different rates based on alcohol content.

As per National Treasury's report, the nation's annual liquor consumption was estimated at 4.5 billion litres in 2022.

The latest figures show beer consumption was at an estimated 3.1 billion litres, with wine drinkers guzzling 453 million litres.

Spirits accounted for 153 million litres, while the ready-to-drink products like premix brandy and Coca-Cola accounted for 697 million litres.

The premix products also saw the largest growth in popularity, showing a 48.7% increase in consumption.