Beer industry: public supports axing tax hike

Seven out of ten people support a drive to make the Government re-think plans for an alcohol tax hike in the upcoming Budget, according to the beer industry.

A survey by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, found that 70% of people oppose rises of up to 8% in alcohol duty, as proposed in the pre-Budget report.

More than 150 MPs have pledged support for the Axe the Beer Tax - Save the Pub campaign, which is being run by the BBPA and CAMRA.

The meeting of the All-Parliamentary Beer Group on Wednesday is expected to see MPs keep up the pressure on the Government to change its plans.

The BBPA claims that 39 pubs were closing each week towards the end of 2008.

In the new survey, it found that the vast majority of people polled (83%) believed "local community spirit and the values associated with close knit communities are under threat at this time", while 63% agreed that a local pub was an important part of these communities.

"The British public is deeply concerned about the decline of local communities, and the rapid closure of pubs is an important part of that," said BBPA chief executive Rob Hayward.

"The British beer and pub industry supports 650,000 jobs and makes a vital contribution to the British economy.

"Yet is has been hit by a succession of tax increases alongside more and more regulation."

IMAGE PA/PA Wire