Unemployment –Government should abandon beer tax hikes or more jobs will be lost in brewing and pubs, says BBPA
Commenting on today’s rise in unemployment and the record high for young people, Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:
“These depressing figures show that more than ever, the Government should abandon plans for hugely damaging hikes in Beer Tax in the Budget, which will hit jobs for younger people particularly hard.
“Beer and pubs are one of our largest employers, with almost one million jobs at stake. For young people, the sector is a huge source of employment, with 300,000 jobs – that’s one in twelve of all young people in work.
“The Government could protect 16,000 jobs with a tax freeze – most of these in pubs. Tax rises that destroy jobs and close pubs are the last thing the economy needs.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
David Wilson: Public Affairs Director Tel: 020 7627 9151
Neil Williams, Communications Manager Tel: (020) 7627 9156 / 07974 249 779
Gareth Barrett, Public Affairs Officer Tel: (020) 7627 9154
Notes to editors:
• Lobby your MP about the Budget using the CAMRA website here
• To access the BBPA’s unique set of data on the number of breweries, jobs and other key indictors in every Parliamentary constituency in the UK, click on the BBPA website here
• The beer story – facts on tap, a summary outlining the case for a freeze in duty published jointly by the BBPA, SIBA and CAMRA, is available on the BBPA website here.
Beer duty – key facts
• 950,000 British jobs depend on the UK beer and pub sector – 34,000 fewer than last year
• There are now 900 breweries in the UK – a vital part of Britain’s manufacturing mix
• £13 billion is paid in wages in the sector
• Brewing and pubs are worth £19.4 billion to the UK economy (Gross Value Added)
• The beer and pub sector contributes over £11 billion in tax revenues
The British Beer & Pub Association is the UK’s leading organisation representing the brewing and pub sector. Its members account for 96 per cent of the beer brewed in the UK and around half of Britain’s 52,000 pubs.
Neil Williams
Communications Manager
British Beer & Pub Association
020 7627 9156
07974 249 779
www.beerandpub.com
British Beer & Pub Association
Ground Floor
Brewers’ Hall
Aldermanbury Square
London
EC2V 7HR