CAMRA is urging the Government to turn back the clock and freeze beer duty once again, as new research confirms that most of us think beer duty is too high.
Research carried out by YouGov[1] has found that 55% of people who expressed an opinion believe beer duty is too high at 54p per pint. Taxes now make up a third of the cost of a pint – a situation made worse in the Spring Budget when the Government announced the first rise in beer duty in four years.
The Spring Budget U-turn undid many of the benefits of the three beer duty cuts and risks a return to the days of the much-hated Beer Duty Escalator which other research showed has contributed to 75,000 job losses, 3,700 pub closures and a 24% fall in beer sales in pubs.
With CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival expected to attract thousands of beer lovers this week, visitors will be asked to back the campaign by calling on the Government to bring back a Budget for beer drinkers and pledge a beer duty freeze for the whole of this Parliament as well as permanent business rate relief for pubs in England.
Colin Valentine, CAMRA’s National Chairman says: “Pubs are a huge part of many people’s lives. If people can’t afford to visit their local, we will see even more pubs close their doors forever – hurting jobs, the local economy and the community. We urgently need to ease the tax burden on our pubs in order to ensure that pub-going remains an affordable activity for the majority of Brits.”
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Media contact:
CAMRA’s press office – 01727 798 452 / press@camra.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
[1] All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2076 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th-26th July 2017. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
The YouGov survey asked: “For the following question, by ‘beer duty’ we mean a tax that is added to the cost of beer. On average, beer duty currently makes up 54 pence per pint of 5% ABV beer sold in the UK. Do you think this level of tax is too high, too low, or about right? (Please select the option that best applies). Of the all UK adults who responded (excluding those who responded “don’t know”, 55% said it’s too high, 9% said it’s too low, and 36% said it’s about right.
About the Great British Beer Festival
A paradise for beer lovers, CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival is an event not to be missed with beers to suit all tastes and preferences. Make sure to work up a thirst before you arrive – this year the festival will be expanding its drinks offering of over 900 real ales and other craft beer, ciders and international beers to include for the first time fine English wine from some of the best wine producers in the country. Upon arrival you will have the chance to sample some fantastic London street food and listen to live bands in between the guzzling. If you are looking for some light entertainment, tutored beer tasting will allow you to not only sample a selection of beers but also learn how to best taste, appreciate and rate beers.
Beer lovers no longer need to wait 12 months for their next great beer festival – CAMRA will be introducing the Great British Beer Festival Winter shortly!
Website: http://gbbf.org.uk
About CAMRA
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit consumer group with over 188,000 members that has been operating since 1971. Our vision is to have quality real ale and thriving pubs in every community.