New figures show UK near top of EU beer tax league

1st June 2009, 7:15am

British beer drinkers pay over nine times the rate of duty as German consumers and seven times as much as the French, according to new figures on tax rates across the European Union from the British Beer & Pub Association.

Across the 27 EU countries, only Finland and Ireland impose higher excise duty rates on beer than the UK.

The figures, compiled by the Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub campaign, are released 10 days before the UK and the rest of the EU holds elections to the European Parliament between 4th and 7th June.

The campaign – launched by the British Beer & Pub Association and the Campaign for Real Ale at the end of last year – is calling on the Government to reduce tax on beer, with six pubs closing every day.

More than 70,000 people have joined or supported the campaign, including over 200 MPs.

Commenting on the figures, David Long, the BBPA's Chief Executive said: "These figures show that British beer drinkers are being taxed at rates far in excess of most of their European counterparts. The result is that pub closures are now running at six a day, with thousands of jobs being lost in the British beer and pub industry. A great British institution is under serious threat and yet the Government appears to be determined to ignore concerns expressed by consumers, the industry and politicians of all parties."

"With elections to the European Parliament taking place next week, beer lovers will note the extent to which they are being taxed above and beyond other consumers in the rest of the EU. We hope that those MEPs elected as a result of these elections will stand up for British beer lovers and the great British pub."

Related Articles:

• 26 Aug 2009 - Industry reacts angrily to banning of beer tax advert
• 29 Jul 2009 - Opposition to mandatory alcohol code is growing
• 29 Jul 2009 - Beer sales are beginning to improve, says BBPA
• 22 Jul 2009 - Pub closures rise to record 52 a week
• 28 Apr 2009 - Beer sales continue to slide
• 22 Apr 2009 - Industry react angrily to the Budget
• 21 Apr 2009 - 'We have 48 hours to save the pub industry'
• 20 Apr 2009 - 90% of public want taxes reduced or frozen in Budget
• 18 Apr 2009 - Chancellor counts cost of £242 million tax loss from pub closures
• 15 Apr 2009 - MPS oppose beer tax rise
• 08 Apr 2009 - Tax rises will result in pub job losses
• 31 Mar 2009 - Sun advert launches 'Text the Chancellor' campaign
• 13 Mar 2009 - Taxation on pubs has gone too far, says Wetherspoon
• 12 Mar 2009 - 30,000 people support local pubs
• 04 Mar 2009 - Record number of pubs closing
• 02 Mar 2009 - New poll shows public are backing local pubs
• 26 Feb 2009 - Tories want to save the great British pub

Click here to submit a comment!

Have your say!

To comment on this article, simply enter your name and email and send us your views. Please note that your comment will appear publicly below this article once it has been processed. For enquiries please email info@eatoutmagazine.co.uk.