Beer will be more expensive as of January 1st, 2019

Giant brewer AB InBev will increase the price of most of its beers from January 1st, 2019. Restaurants and shops will most likely pass on this increase to consumers.

“It does not have to be immediate but we suggest that the increase along the whole value chain takes place,” commented Raf Peeters from Horeca Flanders to Flemish newspaper, Het laatste Nieuws. Horeca (also HoReCa, HORECA) is an acronym for the food and catering services industry.

According to Mr. Peeters, the beer producer Alken-Maes could also review its prices upward.

AB InBev – who owns among others Stella Artois, Jupiler, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Belle-Vue and Corona – is committed to increase its prices however slightly.

The keg of Jupiler for Horeca operators will cost 153.84 euros, VAT included.

For the consumer, “this equates to an average increase of 0.016 euro per small glass of beer,” said Laure Stuyck of AB InBev.