MPs deliver a ’Message in a Barrel’ to the Chancellor

Will there be another cut in beer duty when the Chancellor of the Exchequer releases his budget on 16 March 2016? It is to be hoped.

Nearly 50 MPs joined with the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) on 24 February 2016, by sending a ’Message in a Barrel’.

MPs posted their messages in the handcrafted barrel, specially made by Yorkshire brewer Theakston’s, to add their voices to the beer duty campaign. The cuts in beer duty in the past three budgets have proved a massive boost for brewing and pubs in the UK, resulting in more affordable beer and hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in pubs, says the BBPA in a statement.

However, there is still more that can be done. Beer tax in the UK remains far higher than that of neighbouring European countries. In Germany, for example, the rate of tax on beer is some thirteen times lower than in the UK. Brewing and pubs make a massive contribution to the UK economy. The sector supports almost 900,000 jobs across the country and contributes GBP 22 billion to the UK’s economy.

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:

“I am delighted that so many MPs have shown their support for cutting beer duty. Still in pubs, two thirds of all alcoholic drinks sold are beer. Beer in pubs is now GBP 0.20 cheaper than it would have been had the escalator remained in place. Strong support from MPs always gives a real boost to our campaign. We have built a very strong case for further duty cuts to boost employment and protect pubs, as the industry still faces big cost pressures particularly in the next year.”