Big Beer Pushes for Tax Cuts in Brazil’s Reform: A Threat to Public Health

As Brazil moves toward tax reform, the beer industry is lobbying hard for lower taxes on beer compared to other alcoholic beverages. Major companies like Ambev (owned by AB InBev) and Heineken, both members of Sindicerv, argue beer should be treated differently due to its lower alcohol content. However, this ignores a crucial fact: beer makes up around 90% of alcohol sales by volume in Brazil, making it a key driver of alcohol-related harm, including addiction, violence, and rising healthcare costs.

Lower beer taxes would lead to higher alcohol use, exacerbating these harms. Yet, Big Beer is focused on securing tax breaks to boost profits, disregarding the societal costs. This lobbying reflects a typical Big Alcohol tactic: manipulating policy to serve economic interests at the expense of public health.

In Brazil, tax reform should prioritize community health over industry profits. Given beer’s dominance, offering it tax advantages would only deepen the harm.

Political interference, or lobbying, is Big Alcohol’s activity to eliminate or minimize any alcohol policy effort that would threaten sales and profits. The focus of this Dubious 5 strategy is the decision-makers and opinion leaders with the power to shape and decide alcohol policy decisions. Tactics of political interference are delay, derail, or even destroy alcohol policy initiatives, and to divide coalitions supporting alcohol policy initiatives. Big Alcohol is paying lobbyists and lobby front groups to interfere in public health policy making around the world.

Sources:
https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/economia/reforma-tributaria-bebidas-alcoolicas-cerveja-destilados/
https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/alcoholic-drinks/brazil#revenue

MORE STORIES