Achtung! Time to Emulate Germany S Beer Pride

Achtung! Time to emulate Germany’s beer pride

Published on May 19, 2017

I've spent a lot of time in Germany. I started my education in Frankfurt International School while spending six years of my childhood living in a village called Glashütten. Since then I have been to the country many times, primarily to visit my brother in Wiesbaden. Over the years have developed an strong appreciation for Germany, its people, its culture, its traditions, its cuisine and its of course its beer.

I admire how Germans value its favourite beverage. Germany's brewing heritage, particularly in Bavaria, is seen as a source of national pride. That was evident when in 2016, the country marked the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot otherwise known as the "German Beer Purity Law". The purity law is a series of regulations limiting the ingredients in beer in Germany.

The occasion last year was celebrated at a brewer event in Bavaria. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, addressed guests at the event by praising the brewers' ingenuity in combining the four ingredients (as stated in the 500 year old purity law) to create countless kinds of beer. Chancellor Merkel quoted religious reformer Martin Luther who said that "a person without beer has nothing to drink."

This refreshing appreciation for beer is a far cry from the attitude from the pro guilt agenda of our Department of Health and its puritanical surrogates on social media. The prevailing attitude of Ireland’s Anti Alcohol lobby is massively out of step with reality in Ireland. Alcohol consumption is down 20 percent since 2001 but beer drinkers in Ireland are continuing to pay a heavy price, due to high excise rates.

Last week, a report by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) found that Ireland’s excise on beer is 1000% greater than Germany’s excise rate. The report states that, as of the start of 2017, Ireland pays the second highest rate of excise on beer in the EU. I have written about Ireland’s punitive excise rate many times before but it is important to state that despite all the benefits that beer brings to our society and the economy at large, we still punish beer drinkers through taxation. If our Government does not change its attitude towards beer, then we are in danger of slipping into the prohibitionist caliphate state that the Department of Health aspires to.

Beer has always been Ireland's favourite beverage for two reasons. One is because we are a nation that loves beer and two, we are a nation that produces outstanding beer, a perfect match. Irish beer is something that should be celebrated, instead of vilified. As we edge towards another budget, I ask why must beer be treated as some sort of sinful habit that must be taxed? Who benefits from an excise increase?

The impact of high excise is felt in the pockets of the hard pressed consumers. It’s yet another charge or stealth tax that disproportionately effects people on lower incomes. A CEO of a multinational pays the same rate of excise on a pint as the labourer on minimum wage. It's social eugenics perpetrated by pro guilt agenda within the Department of Health but it doesn't have to be this way.

Beer in Ireland needs to be treated with the respect it deserves. From being consumed in a responsible by beer drinkers to being treated as a cultural asset by society at large. Millions of tourist from all over the world to spend their hard earned money to travel here to drink our beer and enjoy our friendly pub culture. Ireland is not a just another easy city stop off on an Interail pass. It takes an extra effort to come to come here. This should be a source of pride for us. So let’s begin a beer pride initiative. Firstly, let’s reward local beer drinkers and the tourists alike by reducing the rate of excise on beer. Secondly, amend the content and placement restrictions on advertising proposed in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill which will enable innovation in the brewing sector. Thirdly, enact Alan Kelly’s Craft Drinks Bill to allow craft brewers to sell their beer to brewery visitors, with out the need for a full pub license. Finally, the Government must commit to not increase the rate of excise on beer for the next decade due to the forthcoming economic shock of Brexit.

If anyone needs proof of the benefits of treating the brewing sector with the cultural dignity it deserves, then look no further than Germany’s track record which spans half a millennium.

Prost.