Axe the beer tax campaign launches

28th November 2008, 11:17am

A campaign to save the 'Great British pub' has launched this week in Westminster by representatives of the beer industry and consumers.

The scheme, 'Axe the beer Tax – Save the Pub' follows the decision by the Government to impose further duty rises on beer and pubs in its pre-budget report this week.

A third of a price of a British pint now goes in tax. Beer sales in pubs are already at their lowest levels in nearly 40 years and pub closures have accelerated to a rate of five a day.

Yet this week's pre-budget report, on top of the big duty rise in March and the planned increases due to be imposed in each of the next four years, means that by 2012 beer tax is set to rise by a further 40%, at least 7,500 more pubs are set to close, and more than 40,000 pubs are likely to be lost.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "Pubs play a vital role in communities up and down the country and are an essential part of promoting a more responsible drinking culture. Yet recent changes can only force more and more people out of pubs - and more and more pubs out of business."

Mike Benner, chief executive of Campaign for Real Ale, continued: "People who like a quiet pint at the local pub are being singled out for some of the biggest tax increases ever imposed. Community pubs are at the heart of countless communities across Britain. They are where people meet and socialise, and they promote responsible and sensible drinking."

All those concerned about the future of pubs are being urged to sign up to the campaign on its website www.axethebeertax.com where they can lobby their MP, sign an on-line petition and organise local campaigning events. 

Related Articles:

• 15 Apr 2009 - MPS oppose beer tax rise
• 31 Mar 2009 - Sun advert launches 'Text the Chancellor' campaign
• 12 Mar 2009 - 30,000 people support local pubs
• 06 Mar 2009 - Closed pubs don't pay tax

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