Beer consumption is down across Canada, yet taxes continue to go up.

The industry group which represents brewers points to taxes, especially at the federal level, as one reason why people are drinking less of their product.

Beer Canada says consumption of craft beer has dropped over the last number of years, but Newfoundland and Labrador is bucking that trend – at least so far.

Spokesman Richard Alexander says 90 per cent of their product is made with ingredients from farmers in this country.

He says the federal excise tax that goes on alcohol, including beer, has gone up by 18 per cent over the last ten years.

“When you make a product more expensive through taxation, people will drink less of it and that’s what we’re seeing happening.”