How much would you pay for a Bundaberg Rum at your local stomping ground?
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On February 3, the price of a can of your favourite liquor is set to increase again, all because of a bi-annual spirit excise employed by the Australian Government.
But now, representatives at Bundy Rum are putting their paws down and pioneering to put a pause on the un-bear-able tax hike.
On Friday, January 24, representatives from Bundaberg Rum attended The Ox in Bathurst, NSW, all to get the message across that these taxes are simply not sustainable.
"Enough is enough," said the Bundaberg Distilling Co. chair, Amanda Lampe.
Currently, Australia's tax on spirits is $103.89 per litre of alcohol, seven times higher than the United States and significantly higher than the $61.21 New Zealanders pay in tax on spirits.
The spirits excise system has been in place for 40 years and increases twice yearly, in line with inflation.
"At the moment, for a one-litre bottle of Bundaberg Rum, 63 per cent of the cost goes to the tax man in Canberra," Ms Lampe said.
On February 3, this percentage is set to increase yet again.
That's why Bundy is calling on their fans to pressure the government with a new campaign.
Launching billboards, radio advertisements, television segments, coasters, and signs in local pubs and clubs, Bundaberg is calling patrons to follow a QR code and send a message straight to Canberra.
The goal? To freeze the tax.
"What we are asking the government to do is to freeze the tax and actually have a review and have a look at how we can make this more sustainable," Ms Lampe said.
"Twelve months ago, we ran a campaign in Queensland to educate our drinkers and spirits drinkers about the increase in tax and the fact that it goes up every six months.
"We're bringing that down to NSW, and what we're asking our spirits drinkers to do ... is to click onto the QR code and send a message to Canberra."
"Just not right"
It's all so that sharing a drink with your mates at the pub doesn't become a thing of the past.
"People should be able to come to the pub, or go home and have a drink with their mate on a Friday evening, it shouldn't be a luxury," Ms Lampe said.
"We've spoken to Bundy drinkers from towns across the eastern seaboard and they're very aware of how much more it's costing them to enjoy an occasional drink at the pub or in their homes.
"Some have told us they've stopped going to the pub on a Friday night because it's too expensive; others can only afford water when they go out for a meal. Many say that buying a round for their mates isn't affordable, and that's just not right.
"While the spirits tax isn't the biggest pressure people are facing at the moment, they deserve to be able to enjoy their favourite drink at the end of a long working week if that's what they choose to do."
Support by Nationals Candidate for Calare, Sam Farraway
Not only does Bundaberg Rum have the support of drinkers, publicans, and patrons, but National Candidate for Calare Sam Farraway has also come forward in support of a pause on the excise.
At a meeting at Paddy's Hotel in Bathurst on Tuesday, October 1, Mr Farraway announced that he is calling for taxes to be put on hold as part of his policy in the lead-up to the next election.
Mr Farraway said urgent changes were needed to the excise tax, which in its current form was utterly unsustainable for local pubs and clubs.
"Today we have heard from iconic Australian brand Bundaberg Rum that 63 per cent or nearly two-thirds of the price you pay goes straight to the government as tax," he said.
"By freezing these punishing excise increases, we're offering short term relief to local venues in the Central West struggling as patronage declines as people are priced out of a night out.
"If I'm elected as the Member for Calare, I'll be pushing for common sense changes to alcohol excise," Mr Farraway said.
