In Peru, on February 1, Pisco Sour Day will be commemorated, following the tradition in force since 2004, of celebrating the anniversary of this cocktail every first Saturday of February. The various events that take place around the country following this date seek to boost the consumption of the Peruvian flag drink.
However, as a result of the modifications made by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), which increase the Selective Consumption Tax (ISC) to pisco for the first time since 2004, so different pisco representatives expressed concern about the implications that the tax measure may generate in the future for the price of this product.
The tax also involves the cigarette industry, liquors with more than 20 ° alcohol, and one of them is pisco. Such an increase occurred after the ministry formalized the update of the fixed amounts of the ISC for these products. In the case of pisco, the amount increased from S / .1.50 to S / .2.17.
The Pisco Committee of the Association of Exporters of Peru (ÁDEX), who informed this newspaper that the associates of that working group will meet in the coming days to assess the impact of the tax increase.
For his part, José Moquillaza, producer of pisco and ambassador of the Peru brand for this drink, considered that the increase, at the gates of Pisco Sour Day, will motivate protests in the five main producing regions: Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna. «The increase of the ISC to pisco seems to be an equivocal and inappropriate decision, because products with designation of origin, rather than promotion, need protection,» he added.
Winemakers
On the other hand, the Association of Wineries of Peru (ABP) ruled on the increase in the Selective Consumption Tax on the aforementioned products. In that sense, the association points out that this measure affects 500 thousand wineries because it has an impact on sales so that product prices increase.
More than 80% of winemakers say they are affected by unfair competition from street vendors or illegal businesses. While the formal wineries receive an extreme inspection of the National Superintendence of Tax Administration (Sunat) and the municipalities.