Draught beer excise tax has been frozen in Australia and there are calls for the same to be done here.  

The goal is to relieve some pressure on local pubs. 

It rises in New Zealand automatically every year, while beer consumption has fallen to the lowest on record.  

Founder and Director at Abandoned Brewery Tim Ward told Ryan Bridge he questions what the tax is trying to achieve. 

He says it's meant to offset alcohol harm and discourage consumption, but it's a blunt instrument. 

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