Two industry bodies have united to launch a new campaign today calling for the hike in beer duty to be axed.
The campaign "Axe the Beer Tax – Save the Pub”, supported by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), follows the decision by the government to impose further duty rises on beer and pubs in its pre-budget report this week.
The groups said that the tax changes will mean that by 2012 beer duty will rise by a further 40%, resulting in the closure of at least 7,500 more pubs and more than 40,000 job losses.
As part of the initiative launched at the Westminster Arms pub near parliament, the groups also published a five-point manifesto to help save the pub, urging the government to enforce existing laws to tackle excessive drinking, rather than create new ones and calling for the end of irresponsible alcohol promotions in the on and off-trade.
The manifesto said that responsible adults should be trusted to make informed choices about what they drink and the pub should be supported as a vital part of social life in local communities.
Rob Hayward, chief executive of the BBPA, 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. Pubgoers already pay a third of the price of every pint to the taxman. And now beer tax is set to rise by 40% over the next three years.
“The Chancellor has rightly decided the whole British economy needs relief from recession – except for one part of it. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that a great British tradition is being abandoned.”
