Venezuela beer prices triple due to 6,500% production cost increase

The National Federation of Distillers of Venezuela has attributed a 6,500 percent increase in the cost of beer production to a lack of resources and a federal minimum wage increase. In many Venezuelan states, the price for a case of beer has nearly tripled since April, according to Franklin González, president of the distillers group, El Tiempo reports. One of Venezuela's most famous rums, Cacique, is cheaper than its volume-equivalent in beer. Gonzalez said retailers that once sold more than 100 cases of beer a week are now selling less than 15. At least 30 liquor stores have closed since Maduro's latest minimum wage increase, Gonzalez added. More…