• Oxford Economics research reveals that 61 per cent of MPs now have breweries or brewing companies in their constituency (398 out of 650)
• Local brewers crucial to spreading the message on duty freeze in Budget 2012, says Brigid Simmonds
With just two weeks to go to the Budget, all brewers, large and small, must work together to overturn the Government’s failed duty escalator policy – that was the message of BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds addressing the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) conference in Stratford-upon-Avon today. She urged all brewers to use the next two weeks to lobby their MPs to make the case for a duty freeze for beer this year.
Mrs Simmonds told the conference that beer was over-taxed as a low strength drink and as a major contributor to the national and local economy. With beer tax up 35 per cent since 2008, Britons pay 40 per cent of the EU beer tax bill, but only consume 13 per cent of the beer sold in Europe. The Government now receives a massive 95 pence per pint in total taxes from beer sales – in contrast to brewers’ profits, which are around 1 pence per pint. It is a situation that cannot continue, she said. A freeze in duty would save 16,000 jobs in the next three years, mostly in Britain pubs.
Ms Simmonds praised the way SIBA and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) had worked together with the BBPA, which represents larger brewers, on their joint campaign to abolish the duty escalator this year, and that this joint campaigning on the key issue of beer taxation should continue.
Brigid Simmonds comments:
“A freeze in Beer Tax is essential and this message must be heard loud and clear, from the whole brewing and pub industry. Independent brewers show that British brewing is rooted in every part of the country. Research we have just published from Oxford Economics shows that over sixty per cent of MPs have a brewer or brewing company in their constituency – something no other category of drink could claim.
“It’s a huge asset – and we must use it in the next two weeks. SIBA members and all local brewers have a crucial role to play in pointing out to their local MPs, the importance of the brewing industry its unique local presence, and the pressing need for a tax freeze.”