Calls go up to drop UK beer duty

MPs are being urged by the UK’s leading beer trade groups to cut duty by 1p a pint in the upcoming Budget.

As many as 1,000 pubs have been saved from closure following three previous beer duty cuts, supporters claim (Photo: Wiki)

The chief executives of the Campaign for Real Ale, Society of Independent Brewers and the British Beer and Pub Association have all written to MPs urging them to support Parliamentary motion to cut beer tax by 1p.

Around 19,000 jobs have been created in the industry following three successive 1p tax cuts in recent years, supporters claim. It has also helped to save more than 1,000 pubs from closure.

The motion by Nigel Evans MP has already received the backing of 24 MPs a full two months before the Budget in March.

Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, said that the backing of politicians would give a “real boost” to the campaign, while SIBA managing director Mike Benner hailed previous duty cuts as helping to “create new jobs and provide support for important local small businesses across the country.”

Tim Page, Chief Executive, CAMRA, said: “The ending of the beer duty escalator and three consecutive beer duty cuts have kept pubs open and kept the price of a pub pint down.”