Non-alcoholic beer in Canada is to receive duty-free treatment similar to that already enjoyed by non-alcoholic wines and spirits after a change in legislation announced in yesterday’s budget in the country. The announcement means that beers containing no more than 0.5% abv will not be subject to excise duty, a policy that brings the country in line with Canada’s major trading partners’ policies on alcohol-free beer. Currently, non-alcoholic beers are subject to tax at a rate of CAD 2.82 (US$ 2.24) per hectolitre. “This will bring the tax treatment of low-alcohol beer into line with the treatment of wine and spirits with the same alcohol content, and make Canada’s practices consistent with those in other G7 countries,” according to the federal budget document, released yesterday (7 April). Trade association Beer Canada welcomed the move, describing the taxation of non-alcoholic beers as an “unintended barrier to the development and introduction of quality Canadian” offerings. "The elimination of alcohol excise duties on non-alcoholic beer is a good first step,” said the organisation’s president, CJ Hélie. “We look forward to continuing to work with Minister [Chrystia] Freeland to modernise Canada's alcohol excise duty structure and implement further targeted beer tax relief for Canadian consumers, brewers and the broader hospitality sector." Last month, Asahi’s 'Global Brands' director told Just Drinks that the “cluttered” no- & low-alcohol segment needed more stand-out offerings in beer, as the group announced the roll-out of 0.0%, a zero-abv version of its Peroni Nastro Azzurro lager. Why e-commerce is a channel brand owners must target - and fast - Click here for a Just Drinks focus