rewrite Business owners preparing for tariffs on beer and aluminum in 6 to 8 words

EAST ALABAMA, Ala. (WBRC) – President Trump announced 25% tariffs this on all steel and aluminum imports. They are set to go into effect on March 12.

Two business owners in east Alabama talked about these tariffs, and the one thing they both agreed on is taking care of their customers.

Dennis Harker of Big D’s Sports Bar & Grill in Gadsden says he agrees with the president that the tariffs are needed to help reset global trade. Harker says he expects to see some fractional increases with aluminum and beer prices but doesn’t want to pass it on to his customers.

“We feel that’s just the cost of doing business and we just have to be a little more efficient in order to keep our prices competitive. Right now, in doing a lot of surveys, we are as competitive, in fact in most cases lower priced and we’re going to try and keep it that way,” said Harker.

In Jacksonville, Apothecary Draft House Owner Josh Stearns says by placing tariffs on aluminum and beer, he’s paying twice the price.

“If the cost of that keg increases to $260, now it’s costing me money to sell that beer. And so, from a small business perspective, there’s not much other options than for me to increase my prices as well,” said Stearns.

Stearns says as a small business owner, he’s already sacrificing to keep things running.

“I don’t take a salary, I work full-time, I have another full-time job. And so, there aren’t many places for me to absorb a substantial increase in product price that is directly related to a tariff,” said Stearns.

Two different perspectives from these business owners. Both say it comes down to a waiting game at this point.

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