The Keep Craft Beer Local campaign was introduced last week by the Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB), the organization that represents craft brewing in Ontario. The campaign’s objective is to increase public awareness of the fact that the largest danger to local craft brewers is excessive taxes and to demand tax equity so that these businesses may continue to be locally owned in our communities and to produce the delicious beer we all enjoy.
“Local is what makes craft beer craft – and our local breweries are where we gather, where our friends and neighbours work, and are part of the fabric of our communities,” said Scott Simmons, President, Ontario Craft Brewers. “But the local craft breweries we all love are being put at risk by the fact that they currently pay the highest taxes of any craft brewery in Canada. We are excited to launch the Keep Craft Beer Local campaign because we need to lower the tax burden on local breweries to help them grow and succeed and ensure the craft beer we love keeps being brewed right here in the communities we call home.”
Even though Ontario produces some of the greatest craft beer in the world, the industry’s future is in jeopardy due to the existing tax structure. Breweries in Alberta, where a more equitable tax structure has allowed the craft beer business to flourish at a far quicker rate, for instance, pay a craft beer tax rate that is eight times lower than Ontario breweries.
It is extremely essential to reduce the tax burden on our neighbourhood craft brewers since doing so will enable them to increase employment, foster additional business opportunities, and fortify local communities. In fact, a recent study by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA) indicated that with the correct tax and regulatory adjustments, the craft beer industry in Ontario could grow by an additional 40%, leading to the creation of over a thousand new employment in local communities across our province.
The educational website www.keepcraftbeerlocal.ca, which urges craft beer drinkers to use their collective voice to support our local brewers and call on the government to make craft beer taxation fair, will serve as the focal point of the new campaign, which will run over the upcoming months. Through a range of marketing techniques, it will concentrate on encouraging regional brewers and craft beer enthusiasts from around Ontario to visit the website, including:
- Digital Advertising;
- Media Outreach;
- Presence at Craft Beer Festivals and other Community Events; and,
- Direct mail postcards to breweries across the province
“This is our chance to support our craft breweries that do so much to support our communities,” concluded Simmons. “The campaign’s message is simple – local is what defines craft beer, and we need to reduce the taxes our craft breweries pay and build a tax system that is fair and keeps craft beer local. We encourage everyone to visit www.keepcraftbeerlocal.ca and let the government know that local Ontario craft beer matters and that we need to make sure they can keep brewing outstanding beer, creating good local jobs and supporting our communities.”
SOURCE: OCB News
PHOTO CREDIT: OCB News