Beer industry closes in on government beer tax plans
Pubs and brewery’s across the UK have launched a number of campaigns this month, to stop the gov
ernment from increasing duty on beer.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) claim that every week around 39 pubs are closing down in the UK, while at the same time the government is believed to be planning to increase the tax on beer.
The fall of UK pubs comes during the struggle to make ends meet during the current recession, with consumers spending less in the pubs and more in the supermarkets, purchasing cheaper alcohol in bulk.
This fall has led the BBPA to run the Axe the Beer Campaign, specifically targeting chancellor Alistair Darling’s plans to raise the Budget on April 22nd.
So far, the campaign has seen over 200 MP’s sign a parliamentary motion to scrap the increase in tax.
Wychwood brewery, on the eve of Cask Ale week, launched a protest against Parliament, projecting one of their famous Hobgoblin characters on Big Ben in London.
The Hobgoblin character was posed in the style of Lord Kitchener, in the famous WW1 recruitment poster, accompanied by the phrase, “British beer needs you!”
Stephen Oliver, managing director of Marston’s Beer Company, which owns Wychwood, said, “Cask Beer is one of a few British treasures left. Crafted using British grown ingredients, for thousands of years, it is truly part of our heritage and something we vigilantly need to protect.”
Cask Ale week is a celebration of Britian’s national drink with over 6,000 pubs nationwide, running events to keep the British tradition alive.
Mark Hastings, BBPA director of communications, said, “Beer is our national drink.
“The Government should support national champions, but our Chancellor continues to load punitive tax increases on beer.
“Last year alone he put up tax on a pint by an eye-watering 18 per cent.
“Now he plans to put it up again in the Budget on April 22. The British people don’t want it. It’s time to say enough is enough and stop any further tax increase in this year’s Budget.”
Wychwood Beer are encouraging people to jump on board the campaign by mimicking the Hobgoblin pose and uploading it on their Facebook homepage, ‘British Beer Needs You.’
Popularity: 2% [?]
