Norwegian breweries sell less in spite of the falling prices. The industry
fears lay-offs will be next.
(scanpix)
The beer sale in October plunged with almost 11 percent compared with the
same month last year. The numbers from last year was indeed affected by the
fear of a brewery strike, but even two years ago the low prices did not lead
to increase sale.
“This is something to think about,” said Helge Hasselgård, head of
information at Bryggeri-og mineralvannforeningen, the breweries’ and soda
producers’ organization, to TV 2 Nettavisen. “Norway’s alcohol politics have
always been based on the myth that we can control the Norwegian alcohol
consume by increasing the price level. This is apparently wrong.”
Fears lay-offs
“Shut downs and lay-offs may will be inevitable,” said Tor Andersen, CEO at
Hansa Borg Bryggerier to Newswire. “The smallest beer and soda producers
will be affected the most.”
The legal sale of beer is continuing to sink in Norway, at the same time as
the number of people stopped for smuggling beer have reached a new all time
high. The Norwegian government has approved a national budget that will
increase the taxes on beer and mineral water with 1.8 percent next year.
bil/caravan
