Belgian Trappist Monks have broken their vow of silence and are speaking out against a new French tax on beers stronger than 8.5% alcohol. The levy was brought in unexpectedly at the end of last year, and according to government officials is intended to combat alcoholism.
However it is worthy to note that French wines have an even higher alcohol content than Trappist beers, and already enjoy much lower level of taxation than beer, even before this new tax. Since virtually no French brewers are affected by the tax, opponents I think rightfully accuse the French government of using protectionist tactics which go against the spirit of the EU.
In support of the Trappist Monks Bodensatz is calling for all homebrewers and beer drinkers to boycott French wine until this tax is removed.
Some of the biggest Breweries in Belgium have already watered down their brews in order to avoid the tax in France, which will effectively double the price of affected beers. But many are reluctant to change their traditional recipes, some of which are centuries old.
Spokesman for the monks Henroz Phillippe says that they have asked the European Commission to investigate, and they remain confident that a ruling will come down in their favour.
"If somebody wants to get drunk quickly" says Phillippe, "I guess they would go for a cheap wine rather than a specialist beer". Mr Phillippe also says that the Monks stand to lose 2.5 million Euros or about 4 million Canadian dollars a year in revenues.
http://www.bodensatz.com/article.php?story=20030110095919293