Local KrF Overcomes Alcohol Tax Cuts:

The four bourgeois parties have reached a budget agreement.

In exchange for retaining 3,000 quota refugees, KrF has offered Frp to reduce taxes on beer and wine, and other cross-border products by almost 4 billion crowns.

Taxes on beer and wine will be reduced by NOK 775 million and the tax on snus will be reduced by 25 percent.

– We hope consumers will notice this on the box label, says FRP party leader Siv Jensen.

– Not wanted

Before the negotiations, the FRP demanded a cut in the number of refugees from the quota that Norway will receive next year.

Jensen has repeatedly emphasized that the party wants restrictions on asylum and immigration policy.

But now KrF can keep the number of refugees from the quota. It is the Yesidis of Syria who will now be given priority.

– We are a small party and it is important for us to maintain the quota of refugees. Of course, it is not optimal for us to reduce the alcohol tax and increase accessibility, but the alternative could be a possible government crisis, says the longtime Deputy Mayor of Kristiansand Jørgen Kristiansen (KrF).

– Unlucky for the party

Torhild Bransdal (KrF), representative of the Storting, says he would have preferred to see him join in the reduction of alcohol taxes.

– It is clear to everyone that a reduction of taxes on alcohol is not KrF’s priority and is something we would rather do without, but other parts of the alcohol policy are fixed. With these changes, we still have a high level of taxes in Norway, for example, even higher than in Sweden, says Bransdal.

She believes that it should be well known that there are big differences between KrF and Frp in alcohol policy.

– For me it is important to say that we are very proud of the outcome of the negotiations regarding aid and quotas for refugees, he says.

KrF parliamentary leader Hans Fredrik Grøvan supports Brandsdal and says the party has never had a desire to reduce the alcohol tax.

– Although this is not something we want and we think is unfortunate, we do not think this means that alcohol consumption will increase greatly, says Grøvan.

It will not affect cross-border trade

Mayor Jonas Skrettingland of Hå Municipality in Rogaland (KrF) does not believe that the tax reduction will have any effect on cross-border trade.

– It is not desirable that the rates go down, but in negotiations it is given and taken, says Skrettingland.

Agder KrF leader Per Sverre Kvinlaug is happy that his party has gained support to receive 3,000 refugees from the quota and has maintained the aid percentage. It should also have been without cuts to the alcohol tax.

– This is something that KrF basically does not support and would rather not have. But you don’t get a breakthrough for everything, he says.

You have warned against reducing fees

The Blue Cross organization believes that a reduction in the alcohol tax on wine and beer will have significant consequences for society.

– It is a pity. Intoxication is one of our greatest social challenges, and greater accessibility results in increased consumption. The need is great enough already, and we don’t need anything to stimulate a greater need, says Arvid Solheim at Blue Cross Kristiansand.

– We have warned against reducing taxes on alcohol because we know that price is one of the most important tools we have to keep consumption low, says Pernille Huseby at Actis, general secretary of the drug policy organization Actis.

According to Husby, the tax cuts will be detrimental to public health.

– It is disappointing and puts public health in a worse situation. We’ve especially seen this year that having good public health is a good starting point when you’re in a tough spot, says Huseby.