Canary Islands holiday alert as tourists to be hit with new beer tax | World | News

British tourists visiting the Canary Islands are likely to face a fresh tax as the authorities have announced new charges on alcoholic drinks. The new tax, which has been announced by the Canary Islands government, will be implemented particularly on draft and bottled beers.

This means holidaymakers who used to enjoy the €1 (86p) a pint tradition will no longer be able to pay the same amount. According to the Minister of Finance, Flora P.D Saylis, all pints of beer sold for less than €3 (£2.51) will be subject to a 200% “holiday happiness levy”, reports Canarian Weekly. She continued: “We simply can’t allow people to get this happy for this cheap. It’s an imbalance of joy. And joy must now be taxed accordingly.”

The shocking law has not gone well with the island’s tourist bars on the seafront.

An owner of a well-known Irish Bar in Los Cristianos, Paddy O. Flashy Harp, told Canarian Weekly: “I’ve had the ‘€1 Beer’ sign since 1998. It’s been there longer than my second wife.

“Do they want us to charge €4 for lukewarm lager while holidaymakers watch live karaoke? It’s madness.”

According to the reports, local beer enthusiasts have been peacefully protesting by sitting on plastic chairs and refusing to pay more than €1.20 (£1) a pint.

One of the British tourists told the publication: “I only come here for the three Bs: Beer, Beach, and Bargain Booze.

“If I wanted to pay UK prices, I’d stay in Stoke-on-Trent and drink in the rain.”

In reply, the government insists this isn’t about money, but mindfulness.

“We’re encouraging people to sip, not chug. To savour, not shotgun,” Minister Saylis said. “Also, yes, it has raised €87 million in its first three hours.”