By Lamin Njie
Alcoholic beverages will face higher taxes effective January 1, 2019, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has said.
Finance Minister Mamburay Njie told members of the National Assembly recently that the move is part of the government’s tax reform program for 2019.
The minister said new taxes will also be levied on sugary drinks.
The government said the price of imports per litre of spirits (sugary drinks) would rise from D175 to D280; the price of imports per litre of beer would rise from D100 to D175; and the price of wine would rise from D150 to D240 per litre.
Meanwhile the move is set to leave a bad taste in the mouth of consumers as plans are being made by brewers to pass the new tax hike along to them. A source told The Fatu Network on Monday brewers will increase the price of both alcoholic and sugary drinks as soon as the new tax hikes take effect.
