B.C. brewers brace for cost of cans to climb as aluminum tariffs take effect

CTV News interview with Driftwood Brewery Sales Manager Gary Lindsay and BC Craft Brewers Guild Executive Director Ken Beattie.

The tax comes as the industry grapples with ballooning ingredient costs, which Beattie said have not been passed down to consumers. If the aluminum tariffs remain in place, he suspects brewers may have to start charging more.

“That extra money is worth it because the cost of not supporting B.C. breweries and the cost of not doing anything will be the cost of more breweries closing,” he said. “We’ve closed 15 breweries in 10 months and all of it has to do with cashflow and costs.”

The BC Craft Brewers Guild has been working collaboratively with the provincial government for almost a year on proposed changes to tax policies for craft breweries. On February 5, 2025, the BC Craft Brewers Guild issued a press release expressing support for Premier Eby’s commitment to protecting B.C. businesses and urging the provincial government to fast-track markup tax reforms for the craft beer sector.

“Our proposal is revenue neutral, will level the playing field between locally owned and foreign-owned breweries, and would provide much needed relief for B.C. craft breweries, particularly given added financial pressure due to U.S. tariffs. We will continue engaging with local MLAs and key political decision-makers to advocate for a fair markup policy.”

Driftwood Brewing Company in Esquimalt, B.C., orders roughly five million aluminum cans each year. Driftwood expects to feel the impacts of the tariffs within the next month, when it places a new order for cans.

Watch the full CTV Segment HERE

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