France is planning to impose heavy taxes on beer, and it does not go down well with brewers - even in other nations.
President Francois Hollande is pushing through legislation to increase taxes on beer by 160%,
He wants help to fund struggling social security programmes as France tries to lower a budget deficit hit hard by the economic crisis.
The tax would affect local brewers and the 30% of imported beer the French drink.
The Brewers of Europe trade group called the measure a ''kick in the teeth" for brewers. They have seen production plummet by 6% and consumption by 8% in the EU since the economic crisis began in 2008.
Belgium and Germany could be the worst affected once the new legislation kicks in.
