Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is one of 68 Conservative MPs that has signed a letter asking the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to cut beer duty in his upcoming Budget statement next week (March 3rd).
It follows concerted calls from the beer and pub sector for increased support from the Chancellor in his Budget following the announcement of the Prime Minister’s roadmap to reopening.
James said:
“The UK pays £3.6 billion in Beer Duty each year - more than Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Ireland combined. British beer drinkers pay 11 times more duty on beer than those in Germany as well as Spain. Seven in ten alcoholic drinks sold in a pub are beers, underlining how important beer sales are to pub turnover. At present, £1 in every £3 spend in a pub goes to HM Treasury in a range of taxes including Beer Duty.
“The beer and pub industry is a vital part of the UK economy and UK life and although the government has provided significant support, it has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic.
“The freeze on Beer Duty the Government put in place in the 2020 Budget was celebrated at the time and represented a very important step in the right direction, but we are now calling for a cut in Beer Duty over the course of this Parliament to support this vital sector and help them fully recover from what has been a devastating year for them.”
To date, more than 500,000 people have signed the Long Live The Local petition calling on The Government to cut Beer Duty. More than 275,000 people have also written to their local MP asking them to urge the Chancellor to cut Beer Duty.
Welcoming their support, David Cunningham, Programme Director for Long Live The Local, said:
“We have gathered more than 500,000 signatures and 275,000 people have written to their MP since the campaign started. Each signature and email represent someone who cares deeply about pubs and breweries and wants the Government to ensure they can continue to play a vital role in their local community and economy. I`m pleased to see so many MPs have recognised how much their constituents want to see a cut in Beer Duty.”
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added:
“Pubs are the heart of our communities and a vital part of the UK economy, with a presence in just about every city, town and village across the country. Amid this crisis though they face an existential threat, and thousands could be lost for good.
“It is up to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to deliver the support our pubs and brewers need. That includes a beer duty cut that allows them to survive and thrive in the future.”
