Tourist Restaurant University warns of tax implications in the 2027 budget
Habib bin Musa stresses that the proposed increases in alcoholic beverages upset professionals and reduced purchasing power in the absence of new wage increases.
Tunisian University of Tourist Restaurants President Habib Ben Musa warned on 2 November 2026 in Tunisia of the economic repercussions of new tax measures contained in the Finance Bill for 2027. He pointed out that the rise in consumption patterns on beverages has pushed prices to record highs, upsetting restaurant owners and reducing the purchasing power of citizens.
The legal framework for objection provides for Section 24 of the 2027 Finance Bill, which proposes revising employee consumption information on alcoholic beverages and alcohol. The proposed amendments include an increase of 0.03 dinars per litre of beer, 3 dinars per liter of wine, and 10 dinars per bottle of Rouhia beverages, with additional resources allocated for the diversification of social security sources.
Habib bin Musa confirmed that these increases are actually between 25 and 40% and add to the burdens accumulated over the years. He warned that these measures would push consumers towards a parallel market and burden tourist restaurants, demanding amendments to the draft budget before final approval to avoid damaging professional activity.
These warnings coincide with the confirmation by social protection system expert Badr Skywai that the 2027 budget does not include the adoption of new wage increases. He pointed out that the proceedings and pensioners will only continue to disburse the premiums previously scheduled under the Finance Act of 2026 and extended over three years until 2028, including a 5% increase in the guaranteed minimum wage starting from 2027.
The next step is to refer the entire 2027 Finance Bill to the deliberations of MPs for its chapters to be discussed, amended or ratified before the end of this year.