If the price tag on your Modelo or Corona is higher next year, don’t be too shocked. Many economists say that the 25% tariffs President-elect Donald Trump has proposed on imported goods from Mexico and Canada, not to mention additional tariffs on Chinese goods, would be catastrophic for the economy and consumers.
But Malcolm Purinton, an assistant teaching professor of history at Northeastern University whose focus is the history of beer, brewing and trade, says they will hit those beer brands particularly hard. “The most popular beer brand in the entire country right now is Modelo,” Purinton says. “The thing is the demand isn’t going to go away, but the costs are going to go up. … You’ll see all the Mexican beers, also tequila, mezcal, any agave spirits, it’s going to dramatically affect the costs of those.”
