Beer and bus prices to rise on 1 February

February 1 will see a number of changes in Belgium. They include:

Beer

The price of several beers brewed by Alken-Maes and InBev will go up on 1 February.

Alken-Maes says its price increases will depend on the product and that it will be up to café owners and supermarkets to decide whether to pass on these increases to customers. Notable beers coming out of Alken-Maes include Maes and Cristal beers as well as a range of Grimbergen beers.

InBev will apply an increase of 1.7 euro centimes on average per glass. InBev cites the need to finance its long-term investments as the reason behind the increase.

STIB/MIVB

STIB is introducing a number of changes to its rates from 1 February, in particular on its Airport Line. A €60 monthly subscription card will appear for the first time and the price of a one journey ticket bought outside the vehicle will rise from €4 to €4.5. A 10-journey ticket will increase from €28 to €32.

The youth subscription card ‘J’ will no longer be valid from 1 February and the so-called ‘Brussels Card’ will no longer be available from this date either.

Flemish regional transport operator De Lijn will also change its zoning system for short and long journeys on 1 February. In future, a ticket will be valid for 60 minutes during which time the passenger can change to another public transport service as many times as is necessary.

SNCB/NMBS

February 1 will see the introduction of an "on board rate" on all rail services. This will apply to all passengers with or without a subscription card when they buy a ticket on the train. Henceforth, the act of buying a ticket on the train will cost an additional €7 to the price of the actual ticket.

If a passenger fails to buy a ticket on board, they will be fined €75. If a passenger has an out-of-date subscription card, they will still be expected to buy an on board rate ticket (price of ticket + €7).