BBPA makes fresh beer tax plea

The British Beer and Pub Association has once again called on the government to reduce duty on beer in order to save thousands of jobs.

With approximately 40 pubs closing weekly in the UK, the BBPA says the future of almost 400,000 jobs in the industry are being compromised by the elevated duty tax imposed on beer, which has risen 20% since March 2008.

The BBPA has submitted a proposal to the newly-appointed minister for pubs, Wentworth MP John Healey, as well as the chancellor, in a bid to promote beer as a locally produced, low alcohol drink, and subsequently reducing the rates of duty tax.

The proposal comes as the trade braces itself for another 2% tax increase budgeted for March this year.

Healey has said he plans to combat the rate of closures of beleaguered British pubs, which are often “the heart of community life”, as one of 163 parliamentary candidates supporting the Back the Pub campaign along with over 100,000 UK citizens.
 
Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, believes the “impact of blunt duty” has inhibited any progress in pulling the sector out of recession, and a save on duty would result in the safeguarding of 7,500 jobs within the next 12 months.

Natalie Verduystert, 24.02.2010