# First cigarettes now beer: Taxes and inflation make alcohol a luxury as brewer reveals slabs have reached $65

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/first-cigarettes-now-beer-taxes-and-inflation-make-alcohol-a-luxury-as-brewer-reveals-slabs-have-reached-65/
- Published: 2026-11-09T09:59:57+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16277427/beer-alcohol-tobacco-illegal-excise.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Business, Economy, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- A slab of Coopers beer has reached $65.
- Australia lost an estimated $1.23 billion in alcohol tax to illegal sales.
- Industry figures warn high prices could expand the black market.

## Summary

Coopers Brewery managing director Michael Shearer says Australia’s twice-yearly alcohol excise increases are unsustainable as the price of a slab of beer reaches $65. He warns that rising legal prices could push more people towards illicit alcohol, repeating some of the problems associated with the country’s illegal tobacco trade.

The Australian Taxation Office estimates $1.23 billion in alcohol tax was lost to illegal sales in 2024–25, more than double the 2015–16 figure. The Spirits Council of Australia says tax-free alcohol accounts for 14 per cent of sales. The article also notes that a 20-pack of cigarettes costs about $40, including roughly $28 in tax, while black-market packs average $12; illegal tobacco sales are difficult to measure.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.