Filenews 20 October 2024
The prices of beer consumed in European Union countries are subject to high taxes, in addition to VAT, as the European Union requires member states to charge at least €1.87 per 100 liters.
The required tax translates to around €0.0309 for a 330ml bottle of beer with an alcohol content of 5%, but only a few countries remain close to that figure.
According to recent figures published by the US-based think tank Tax Foundation and republished by Euronews, Finland collects the highest amount of tax, €0.597 per 330ml can of beer, followed by the UK with €0.413 and Ireland with €0.372.
The lowest beer tax is imposed in Bulgaria, which is €0.0316 per 330 ml, followed by Germany with €0.0325 and Luxembourg with €0.0327. Greece charges 21 cents per 330 ml and Cyprus ten.
In Cyprus, the sale of beer is also subject to 19% VAT, which is one of the lowest in EU countries. Only Luxembourg (17%) and Malta (18%) have cheaper VAT. Hungary (27%) and Croatia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have the highest VAT on beer with 25%.
