On Monday, President Donald Trump announced a stricter tariff on aluminum and steel, expanding a policy first enacted in 2018. The change will affect the price breweries pay for 16-ounce aluminum cans, which have become a staple in the industry.
According to information on the White House website, the tariff will increase the tax on aluminum from 10 percent to 25 percent and remove exemptions for certain countries, including Canada, the United States’ largest aluminum supplier.
Dave Makson, managing partner at Damon’s Liquor in Bangor, said breweries haven’t always relied on cans, but they’ve become more popular in recent years.
“Over the last ten years, we’ve seen a big switch from glass to aluminum,” Makson said. “First and foremost, because of cost, but also because aluminum prevents beer from skunking due to light exposure.”
If aluminum becomes too expensive, Makson said some breweries might switch back to glass bottles.
“If …