- Details
- Written by Mel James-Henry
- Category: Beer Taxation
Responding to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement today Tom Stainer, Chief Executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, said:
“With the Office of Budget Responsibility stating that household disposable incomes are set to fall at the biggest ever rate since records began, it looks like we are in for a huge dent in consumer spending which will hit our pubs, social clubs and the breweries that serve them.
“Coupled with huge rises in costs for businesses in the beer and pubs industry, we urgently needed action to support and save our locals which are a vital part of community life up and down the country.
“Unfortunately, the Chancellor’s announcement contained little new support for pubs and brewers. This will result in costs going up for consumers, who don’t have the disposable income with current prices, let alone in a few months’ time.
“CAMRA will continue to campaign for urgent help for pubs, breweries and cider producers in the months and years to come. This should include more help with the burden of business rates, replacing the unfair business rates system entirely, reversing the impending increase in the VAT rate for some goods and services and bringing forward the introduction of the draught duty rate for beer and cider served in pubs.”
- Details
- Written by Mel James-Henry
- Category: Beer Taxation
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of the Spring fiscal statement, urging Government to support pubs, clubs, brewers, and cider makers in the coming tax year.
The consumer rights organisation has detailed the threats currently faced by the sector and called for three key measures to be put in place to help combat the impact of spiralling business costs:
- Expanded Business Rate Relief to both include more businesses and provide a greater level of relief.
- Accelerated implementation of the new preferential duty rate for draught beer and cider.
- For the current temporary 12.5% VAT rate for some goods and services within the hospitality industry to be made permanent.
With strong public and industry support for these steps, these measures would make a significant contribution to mitigating rising costs and offering on-going support to those in the industry.
Commenting, CAMRA National Chairman, Nik Antona said:
“While pubs, clubs, brewers and cider makers have worked incredibly hard to begin recovery from the disruption of the pandemic, the aftershocks of this upheaval are still being felt. The current cost of living crisis, and looming increases in fixed costs such as Business Rates and VAT, will only compound these issues so it is vital that Government takes the opportunity of the Spring fiscal statement to support the sector.
“These businesses not only represent a key part of the UK economy, they are at also the heart of so many communities. Pubs, clubs, brewers and cider makers face a financial tipping point, and we urge the Chancellor to ensure that Government support does not fall short.”
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- Written by Tony Morgan
- Category: Beer Taxation
On Wednesday 27th October the Chancellor will deliver his latest Budget, laying out plans for any changes in taxation, and potentially also announcing the initial outcome the Alcohol Duty Review. Ahead of this, CAMRA are asking you to contact your MP to ask them to lobby on behalf of pubs, clubs, brewers, and cider makers.
- Details
- Written by Mel James-Henry
- Category: Beer Taxation
Yesterday the Chancellor delivered the Autumn Budget and there was some fantastic news for pub goers.
The way alcohol is taxed will be changed with a lower rate of duty charged on draught beer and cider served in pubs and social clubs.
This establishes an important principle in the taxation system for the first time: that pubs are a force for good in our communities and should be better supported to help them survive, thrive and compete with the likes of supermarkets.
For years we have campaigned for this change, and in the run up to this Budget thousands of CAMRA members emailed their MPs about our campaign for a fairer alcohol duty system and business rates.
Thank you.
We have also had great news for our small and independent cider makers, with a new progressive duty system which will support smaller producers to grow their businesses, increasing choice of quality ciders and perries available to consumers.
However, there is always more campaigning to be done.
At the moment the new, lower draught duty rate is proposed to apply only to containers over 40 litres – which will exclude a lots of small brewery beers that are commonly sold in smaller casks and kegs. That’s why we will be campaigning in the coming months to reduce the threshold to #MakeIt20 litres
P.S. This is a team effort, and we can all celebrate this success – thank you for being a part of the CAMRA Team and helping us achieve a better duty system for beer and cider drinkers.
- Details
- Written by Mel James-Henry
- Category: Beer Taxation
From 10:00AM Sunday 28 February until Tuesday 2 March we encourage anyone who loves pubs to Tweet the Chancellor (@RishiSunak) with a personal message about why #PubsMatter to you and need support in the Budget.
The #PubsMatter campaign aims to flood social media with positive messages about why pubs, social clubs and taprooms matter to people and communities.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget On 3 March and we will find out if pubs, clubs, brewers and cider makers will get the support they need to thrive when they can reopen after lockdown. Everyone and anyone who loves pubs – consumers, campaigning groups, publicans, brewers, writers, journalists, or politicians – are encouraged to get involved.
CAMRA takes part in the #PubsMatter social media campaign along with trade associations and other groups from the beer and pub world – more details are on the campaign website www.whypubsmatter.org.uk
