View film: www.beerandpub.com/filmpreview
A new film highlighting the importance of a beer tax freeze in the March Budget was released by the British Beer & Pub Association today. The film ‘The Beer Story – Calling Time on Duty’ highlights the vital role the brewing and pub industry plays in the economic and social life of Britain, and includes interviews with a host of people who make this £19 billion industry such a key part of the economy – in every part of Britain.
In the ten-minute film, presenter and beer expert Marverine Cole goes on a journey round the country, visiting pubs and breweries, talking to those who make the industry work. Stops include Adnams brewery in Suffolk, the Shoulder of Mutton, a venue supported by Pub is the Hub in North Yorkshire, and to Westminster to talk to industry leaders and MPs.
The BBPA wants this new film to become a key tool, throughout the industry, in promoting the case for a freeze in beer duty in this year’s Budget. BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds is urging everyone to get behind it, at a launch today at The Clarence in Whitehall.
Brigid Simmonds comments:
“Huge thanks are due to everyone who participated in the making of the film. Whether it is lobbying their local MPs or encouraging others to do so, I hope everyone, from beer drinkers, to pubgoers, publicans and the entire beer and pub supply chain will use this new film to help make the case for a fairer deal for our sector.
“The 42 per cent tax rises we have endured since 2008 are unsustainable. It is vital we get the message across that a change of Government policy could really boost investment and jobs across both beer and pubs – without putting a serious dent in Government revenues.”
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For further information and requests for interviews with Brigid Simmonds, please contact:
David Wilson, Director of Public Affairs: 020 7627 9151/ 07557 436 033
Gareth Barrett, Public Affairs Manager: Tel: (020) 7627 9154
Neil Williams, Head of Media: 020 7627 9156 / 07974 249 779
Notes to editors:
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 50,000 pubs.
1. To view the film, see here: www.beerandpub.com/filmpreview
2. Beer sales support around one million jobs and generate nearly £8 billion in tax revenues.
3. A study for the BBPA by Oxford Economics shows that the 5 per cent tax rise in the budget will result in only £92m in extra beer duty revenues, which will almost be offset by the loss of employment and other taxes (and increase in social security spending) resulting from the 5.000 jobs the sector will lose as a result.
4. Beer duty was increased by 5 per cent in the March 2012 Budget. The total increase in beer duty since March 2008 stands at 42 per cent. The Government’s controversial beer tax ‘escalator’ policy means increases of two per cent above inflation until 2014/15.