Baradine publican Susan Fuller pays herself 22 cents an hour. With the arrival of the latest beer tax, her wage will go lower still. 

The latest beer tax arrived on August 1, a further 2.2 per cent rise in six months. In just over a year, the tax at the taps has risen by more than 10 per cent. 

“This is why country pubs are closing down because it’s just not viable, especially pubs like mine with no gaming,” Ms Fuller said. 

Susan Fuller enjoying the life of a publican. (Supplied)

“It’s a big job. I work anywhere from 12 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s hard work to make a living out of these places.”

In previous tax rises, Ms Fuller chose to absorb the prices rather than pass them on, as a new business owner in town. 

“I’m trying to build up goodwill after the business was closed for a long time.”

This time she will stagger the rise over two smaller increases, but Ms Fuller doesn’t expect it to go unnoticed. 

“It’ll just be the usual comments, there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” she said. 

The tax hike comes at an already worrying time for publicans, who are predicting a downturn in sales. 

“We’re coming into a drought cycle. There’s going to be less cash going around and less money available for people to go out on.”

“They’re not going to want to spend it on beer if it’s a ridiculous price,” Ms Fuller said. 

According to the Brewers Association of Australia, the taxa will see beer drinkers pay $20 in tax for a slab of full-strength beer, and publicans paying $80 in tax for a full-strength keg. 

“While the Treasurer inherited these automatic half-yearly beer tax increases, we’re calling on the Government to step in and take some action before a trip to the pub or a dinner out with the family becomes an unaffordable luxury for most Australians,” said Brewers Association President John Preston. 

Australia now holds the third highest beer tax in the world, following Norway and Finland.