Long Live The Local has welcomed the freeze in Beer Duty announced in today’s Budget, as well as the increased support in business rates relief for small pubs.
The UK pays £3.5 billion in Beer Duty each year[1], which is the highest across Europe. The Chancellor’s decision to freeze beer duty today puts pubs and brewers in a better position than the Beer Duty increase originally planned.
The announcement by the Chancellor clearly demonstrates that he has listened to 250,000 people who signed the petition,130,000 people who wrote to their MPs and 25,000 pubs who have campaigned throughout the year.
David Cunningham, Programme Director of Long Live The Local, commented, “The Government has listened to the quarter of a million people that signed our petition asking for a cut to Beer Duty. Whilst not a cut, replacing the planned increase with a freeze, shows the Chancellor has recognised the value of local pubs and Britain’s brewers.”
This was echoed by Candice Brown, Publican of The Green Man in Eversholt. She said, “Pubs are the beating heart of villages like Eversholt. There are pubs like mine up and down the country that will welcome this freeze in Beer Duty. It’s great to see the Chancellor really understands the cultural, social and economic value of pubs. He would be welcome for a pint in my pub any time!”
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For images of Candice Brown, to speak to David Cunningham or for more information on Long Live The Local, please contact One Green Bean – BBA@onegreenbean.com / 0203 196 8306.
Notes to editors
Long Live The Local is a campaign, backed by Britain’s Beer Alliance, that celebrates the vital social, cultural & economic role pubs have in Britain. It highlights the jeopardy that local pubs face from a range of tax pressures, including Beer Duty, business rates and VAT.
In 2018, the Chancellor froze Beer Duty, in response to 116,794 people who signed the petition to cut Beer Duty. 48,160 of these wrote directly to their MPs asking them to support a cut.
Over 256,000 people signed the petition this year & more than 130,000 people have written to their MP. This year 25,000 pubs actively supported the campaign.
Britain’s Beer Alliance was formed in 2014 to promote beer and pubs and encourage collaboration across the industry.
The Alliance consists of over 120 members including independent pubs, pub companies, regional, independent and international breweries.
For more information on the campaign, please visit: longlivethelocal.pub.
[1] British Beer and Pub Association, Facts on Tap