CAMRA Slams 25% Beer Duty Increase in Last 2 Years
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Press Release
CAMRA slams 25% beer duty increase in last 2 years
as threat to survival of community pubs
Issued: Wednesday March 24th 2010
Status: For immediate use
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‘With nearly 6 pubs a day still closing, what community pubs and pub goers needed today was a lifeline, not a death knell.' (Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive)
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has attacked the Government's lack of regard for community pubs and responsible beer drinkers following a punitive 5% increase in beer duty in today's Budget and plans to increase beer duty above inflation for the next three years.
With nearly 6 pubs a day already closing, CAMRA fears these latest rises will mark the end for many more valued community pubs, with beer prices set to rise in pubs by up to 20p a pint.
Instead of freezing beer duty and helping to protect the nation's well-run community pubs, the Chancellor's last act before the General Election is to impose another duty hike that will lead to further wholesale pub closures. Beer duty has soared by an unprecedented 25% in the last 2 years.
Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:
‘Today's budget is a charter for the large supermarkets who irresponsibly promote alcohol as a loss leader at the expense of our nation's community pubs, real ale and responsible pub goers.
‘CAMRA is totally at a loss in understanding how a Government that recognises the community value of pubs can impose such consistently draconian beer duty increases.
‘Today's duty increase has stamped down on the survival hopes of community pubs across the UK. This is a further tax raid on responsible beer drinkers and community pubs. It is however a tax raid that will yield little extra money for the Government as any extra beer duty will be outweighed by job losses, pub closures and reduced business taxes.'
CAMRA has today also expressed concern at the 10% above inflation increase in duty on cider and will be demanding Government action to support and protect small real cider producers.
‘Hitting small real cider producers with this hike will cause irreparable damage to one of the nation's most historic craft industries. The Government must introduce a relief package to support the UK's small cider producers.'
ENDS
For further information:
CAMRA Press Office - 01727 798443
Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive - 07971 591224
Jonathan Mail, CAMRA Head of Public Affairs - 07720 724733
Iain Loe, CAMRA Research Manager - 07801 706607
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