Drinks and pubs group in call for a beer tax freeze
THE British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called on the UK government to ditch its proposed tax hike on beer estimating it will save thousands of jobs across the sector.
The BBPA said that by scrapping the proposed two per cent tax hike the government is proposing ahead of March’s budget meeting, 7,500 jobs could be saved over the next 12 months.
The government should instead adopt a tax policy to boost beer as a low alcohol drink, according to the BBPA.
“It’s time for the chancellor to recognise the social, community and economic value of a low strength drink like beer and social drinking in pubs,” commented BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds.
Duty rates on beer have increased by 20 per cent during the last two years, while beer sales were down by £650m last year.
A Treasury spokesperson said: “Alcohol duties are an important contributor to the public finances. The increase announced at the Budget means that the Government will receive additional revenue from alcohol duty to support public services.”