France is planning heavy tax increases on beer, upsetting brewers - even in other countries.

President Francois Hollande is pushing through legislation to increase taxes on beer by 160% to help fund struggling social security programmes as France tries to lower a budget deficit hit hard by the economic crisis. The tax would affect local brews and the 30% of imported beer the French drink.

The Brewers of Europe trade group called the measure a "kick in the teeth" for brewers, who have seen production plummet by 6% and consumption by 8% in the EU since the economic crisis began in 2008.

Belgium and Germany could be the worst affected once the new legislation kicks in.