PUBLICANS are worried that another beer tax hike will be the “nail in the coffin” for many local drinking holes.
The Government plans to increase beer duty by two per cent above inflation in the budget, to be announced next Wednesday, and by the same amount for the following three years, despite the fact pubs are closing nationally at a rate of six per day.
Waltham Forest publicans and campaigners are concerned about how this will effect traditional British pubs and the jobs they provide and are encouraging punters to lobby Chancellor Alistair Darling by backing the ‘Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub’ campaign.
Landlady of the Birbeck Tavern, in Langthorne Road, Leyton, Kathy Wilson, said: “I would like to see no tax going on beer this year, but I don’t think that will happen because the Chancellor promised he would put it up.
“If he does I think more pubs will close in the borough because we are already struggling, so it could be the last nail in the coffin for a lot of pubs.”
Co-manager of the Rose and Crown in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, Aaron Clingham, said: “It is something that is a concern for all pubs across the board. Customers expect prices to go down because of VAT decreases, so it is difficult to explain that they are going up because of tax.
“We are supporting the Axe the Tax campaign. It is a difficult time because of the recession, so anything that can help us survive is good in our eyes.”
The ‘Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub’ campaign was launched in November by the British Beer & Pub Association, and beer consumer champion, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
More than 202 MPs, including Leyton MP Harry Cohen and Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard, signed an Early Day Motion last week calling on the Government to scrap plans to increase beer tax in this month's Budget.
Keith Emmerson of the CAMRA East London & City Branch said that 60,000 jobs are at risk in the pubs industry if the Government doesn’t stop “hammering tax on beer”.
He said: “You are never quite sure whether the politicians are listening to anyone or just themselves. We have the highest tax rate in Europe on alcohol and it has to come down.
“I think people want to support their local pubs but beer is a decreasing market because people feel it is too expensive, especially when people can get it from supermarkets at silly prices.”
The demands by Axe the Beer Tax: To stop plans to increase beer tax by up to a third To enforce existing laws, not create new ones, to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and premises To end the irresponsible promotion of alcohol in supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere To trust responsible adults to make informed choices about what they drink To support the British pub as a vital part of social life in local communities Visit axethebeertax.com for more details
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