Australia: Consumers Association wants to know where premium foreign beers exactly come from

A storm is brewing over the labelling of premium foreign beers made in Australia, the Age communicated on December, 21.

The Australian Consumers Association is demanding clearer, more prominent labels on bottles of foreign beer made locally under licence, to show drinkers exactly what they are buying.

ACA spokesman Christopher Zinn said it was time to address the issue of labels on imported beers.

"Even if (the breweries) say it tastes the same, people who buy it might claim it tastes different, so it seems fair enough you should be able to know where it's been made so you can choose accordingly," he said.

Local breweries defend their right to make foreign-brand beers in Australia, claiming the beer tastes better because it is fresher.

Foster's, which brews Guinness, Stella Artois, Kronenbourg and Carlsberg under licence in Australia, says the locally made product is very close to how the original beers taste overseas.

Lion Nathan, which makes Heineken, Beck's and Kirin locally, claims they are brewed under strict guidelines set by the label owners and its operations are overseen by the brewers from Holland, Germany and Japan.

According to spokesman James Tait, bottles were clearly labelled and did not need to be changed. He said the ACA should be more concerned about importing by unauthorised dealers involving shipments of beer.

24 December, 2008