A quarter-million jobs, one policy choice: Why predictable beer excise matters for craft and the wider economy

The beer value chain supports over 250,000 jobs in South Africa, and maintaining predictable excise duty is vital for economic stability. Somewhere between a barley field in the Free State and a taproom in a small town, a quarter of a million South Africans earn their living. They are farmers, factory workers, packaging suppliers, logistics operators, township retailers and hospitality staff.

Across direct, indirect and induced effects, independent assessments estimate that the beer value chain supports more than 250,000 jobs and generates substantial revenue through excise, VAT, corporate income tax and personal income tax. Each of those livelihoods is influenced by a single line in the National Budget: the annual adjustment tobeerexcise duty. For years, South Africa’s excise framework has been guided by a clear principle — that real tax burdens should remain stable over time through inflation-linked adjustments. That predictability was designed to protect the legal tax base, provide revenue certainty to the fiscus and allow businesses to plan, invest and employ with confidence.