Whiskeys and rums may become more expensive following EU response measures

The new front in the trade war: the bar?

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has already indicated that the EU is considering serious response measures and is preparing various packages of measures. Although no final decision has been made yet, EU leaders are openly talking about the potential economic damage: soaring inflation, rising food and medicine prices – and it is not ruled out that the trade conflict will also extend to alcoholic beverages.

The tariff war could therefore easily spread to the shelves of shops and bars, and if the EU does indeed impose tariffs on American alcohol, the most popular overseas drinks – such as Jack Daniel’s, Buffalo Trace or Woodford Reserve – could face a serious price increase. This will not only affect the wallets of fans of premium drinks, but also those in the hospitality industry and retail.

Stocking up and waiting: how will the market react?

According to Whiskynet.hu – one of the best-known Hungarian liquor webshops – there is no panic in the market yet. “There is no movement in pricing here yet, as nothing is certain yet. As things stand, the EU countermeasures could come into effect from the end of April at the earliest,” they said. However, this does not mean that preparations are not underway in the background.

According to Kati Szatmári, co-founder of WhiskyNet, the uncertainty is already palpable. “Nobody wants to price themselves out of the market in advance,” he said, adding that if the tariffs come into effect, prices will certainly rise after existing stocks run out.

So the question is: is it worth stocking up on American spirits now? According to Szatmári, yes. “The stock that traders have accumulated will certainly last for a while, but it is not infinite.” WhiskyNet has already taken action accordingly: “We are prepared for all eventualities. The only question is how long this stock will last – and whether it was really necessary.”