Distillers act on TV ads

Nevertheless, the alcopop levy will stay until 13 May – even though Parliament, following the Senate, axed the levy in March.

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) said “the Excise Tariff Proposal remains in effect even though the Bill failed [...] the Tax Office will continue to collect the revenue at the higher rate until midnight on 13 May”.

A spokeswoman could not explain why the vote was not enough to quash the hike. Continuation of the levy means the ATO will collect an additional AUD 6 million a week from drinkers, which it will have to repay to distillers and alcohol wholesalers.

The total tax to be collected in the next eight weeks could amount to as much as AUD 48 million (EUR 26 million).