Footy fans team up with pubs to tackle beer tax plans

11th June 2010, 8:36am

Football fans and beer drinkers have teamed up to defeat plans to increase beer tax, as figures show that duty rates have risen by a staggering 1,000% since England last won the World Cup in 1966.

With reports growing that the Chancellor is planning a VAT increase to 20% in the forthcoming Budget, football fans fear their favourite pint could increase by at least six pence, right in the middle of the World Cup.

There is also the real the danger of a double whammy. A beer tax plus VAT increase would see the price of a pint rocket by 20p on the eve of England's third group game against Slovenia on 23rd June. Such a move would spell disaster for thousands of community pubs and for Britain's brewing industry.

The Football Supporters Federation (FSF) has backed the British Beer & Pub Association's call to the Chancellor to give beer a break and back British pubs when he presents his emergency budget on 22nd June.

The FSF will be urging thousands of their members to lobby George Osborne via the 'I'm Backing The Pub' campaign website.

Since England last lifted the World Cup in 1966, new figures show that duty on a price of beer has risen from 3.6p in 1966 to 39p today. Together with VAT and other taxes this means that a third of a pint now goes in tax.

Beer tax in this country is far higher than in other World Cup countries. It is eight times higher than in France, ten times higher than in Spain and 11 times higher than England's old rivals, Germany.

The Football Supporters Federation has backed the BBPA's calls for tax restraint given the World Cup. Michael Brunskill, director of communications, said: "Fans already pay enough out over the course of a season without having to worry about another hike in the price of a pint. Let's hope the taxman doesn't spoil our World Cup – that's normally the job of the Germans!"

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the BBPA, agreed: "Beer accounts for 60% of sales in community pubs, so beer tax increases have a direct impact on British pubs. A further tax hike on top of the 26% increase of the last two years will hit hundreds of thousands of fans going to their local to watch England at the World Cup.

"Beer duty has increased by an incredible 1,000% since the last time England won the World Cup. All of us will be cheering on England this time and the Government must heed the call to give beer a break."

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