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Beer, wine and spirits prices are on the way up, transtasman brewer Lion Nathan says.
The company said consumers were likely to feel the effects of more than just increased labour costs when they bought a pint of beer in the near future.
Managing director Peter Kean said today his company had no choice but to pass on higher costs for manufacturing and distribution to customers.
"We cannot continue to absorb higher production costs any longer," he said.
"Over the past 12 months we've sustained increased costs right across our manufacturing and distribution activities, including higher aluminium, glass, sugar and fuel prices."
Mr Kean said the recent increase in road user charges was the latest in a long list of higher costs Lion Nathan has had to bear.
"We are left with no choice but to increase our beer, wine, spirit and RTD prices to reflect the increased costs of production and distribution."
Mr Kean said when Lion adjusted prices for the annual CPI-related excise tax increase from July, the company would also be factoring in a price increase to offset some of the higher costs of production and distribution.
- NZPA
