Drink makers afraid of VAT-changes

While certain areas of the Hungarian alcoholic beverages market will hardly be affected by tax changes, other segments may suffer greatly.

Csaba Horváth, secretary general of Hegyközségek Nemzeti Tanácsa said consumers will not experience any major changes in wine costs. Nevertheless it is more than troubling that distributors are looking to deflect the expenses of the VAT measures to the winemakers, he added. Champagne consumers are about to expect a 10.7% increase in prices expected for the segment due to the combined effect of the VAT and excise tax raise, too.