Expect another increase in beer prices in the new year.

The federal excise tax on alcohol goes up automatically every April.

Beer Canada says the annual increase has led to a drop in beer sales since its inception.

President Richard Alexander says there was no relief outlined in the most recent federal budget, meaning your next six-pack will increase come the spring.

“Even though the tax continues to increase year after year, because consumption is down by nearly 20 per cent, the government is not pulling in any more revenue from it, so it doesn’t make sense. It’s not meeting its guidelines,” he told VOCM News.

“We’ve had widespread support from MPs, including ministers Joanne Thompson and Tom Osborne, across all parties. And for some reason the government just decided not to do it in this budget.”