WBRZ - Baton Rouge

France plans a heavy tax on beer and its not being swallowed by brewers at home and in other countries. President Francois Hollande is spearheading legislation to increase taxes on beer by 160 percent to help fund struggling social programs. France is in an economic crisis. It would mean the price of beer would jump 20 percent in bars and stores. The Brewers of Europe trade group calls the measure a "kick in the teeth", especially since brewers have seen beer production and consumption drop in the European Union since the world-wide recession began in 2008.