Next month’s Autumn Statement is a ‘make or break’ moment for nation’s pubs, the Campagin for Real Ale (CAMRA) is warning Jeremy Hunt.
CAMRA’s 150,000 members are sending messages to the Chancellor and MPs ahead of 22 November, in a bid to protect community pubs and social clubs.
The organisation’s ‘Save Our Pubs’ campaign calls on the Chancellor to reduce duty on draught beer and cider – cutting tax on pints in pubs to help them compete with the likes of supermarket alcohol and to end the ban on take-home pints from most pubs and festivals.
It also urges government to replace business rate relief schemes in England which are due to end next year, alongside making sure energy supply and pricing issues are fair for hospitality businesses.
CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said that action is needed to “save the future of the UK’s pubs”.
“In August, the Government’s new alcohol duty system introduced a lower rate of tax charged on draught beer and cider served in pubs, clubs and taprooms.
“To really protect and promote pubgoing, the Chancellor should reduce draught beer and cider duty further - and give our locals a fighting chance with the likes of supermarket alcohol”, he said.
He added that as customers continue to tighten their belts, licensees, brewers, and cider makers face an uncertain economic future as they don’t know what their business rates or energy bills will look like in the next year.
“That’s why the licenced trade and consumers will want to see the Chancellor taking action to guarantee a fair deal from energy supplies for hospitality businesses - and crucially to extend help with business rates relief in England beyond April next year and allocate money to do the same in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”, Antona said.
