MPs and public unite in call for Government to scrap beer tax increases

Alcohol

Luke Forshaw

April 03, 2009

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MPs and public unite in call for Government to scrap beer tax increases

LONDON - More than 200 MPs and 70,000 members of public have called on the Government to scrap plans to increase beer tax.

The Government plans to increase beer duty by 2% above inflation in this month's budget, and by the same amount over the next three years.

Last month an opinion poll by ComRes showed that 70% of the British public did not believe the tax-rise was justified, especially considering the ever-mentioned economic climate.

This has resulted in the ‘Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub' campaign, organised by pubs and beer consumers.

In the last twelve months, 2000 pubs have had to close, resulting in 20,000 jobs being lost. If the beer tax increase is to occur, there are fears these figures will rise.

David Long, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: ‘Pubs are a fundamental part of our community life, and the Government needs to act to save them'.

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