Trump’s tariffs could push up the price of your favorite beer (and tequila)

Beer and liquor may be recession-proof, but they’re certainly not tariff-proof.

Beer and liquor may be recession-proof, but they’re certainly not tariff-proof. If President-elect Donald Trump follows through with proposals to impose a 25% tariff on all items from Canada and Mexico, the result would be a stiff penalty on some of America’s favorite libations, not to mention the No. 1 beer brand in the nation: Modelo. Some business owners have started stockpiling popular products — specifically tequila, which can be made only in Mexico — and taking other actions to help stave off potential price hikes. However, industry leaders and analysts say consumers would still have to pay more in the end. “A lot of those companies, especially the smaller ones, don’t have much choice except to pass those costs along,” said Dave Williams, president of Bump Williams Consulting, which provides consulting and analytics services to the alcoholic beverage industry. He added: “The unfortunate reality is that would trickle down.”