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News Article Comments : Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank'
The pub industry is not a piggy bank to be raided every time the Chancellor can’t make his sums add up.
That's the message from the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) prior to Monday's pre-budget report. Chief executive Nick Bish said the alcohol duty escalator — a promise of a duty rise of 2% above inflation for the next four years — had created a "financial hangover" for pubs.
The ALMR claims that new pub openings have dropped 75% since December 2006 — if that trend was reversed the Chancellor would net an extra £203.5m a year.
“All the evidence shows that the alcohol duty escalator disproportionately affects bars and pubs, to the advantage of supermarkets offering bargain basement offers that fuel the very type of irresponsible drinking the Government claims the duty hikes will stop," said Bish.
"Our industry is not here as a piggy bank to be raided every time Mr. Darling can’t make his sums add up. We need positive, innovative thinking — not crude smash and gra
| Author Name | Opinion | Reply |
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Stephen Corbett 20/11/2008 15:35:23 |
RE: Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank' Come on Nick! Why ask the taxpayer to bail out the pubs when the simple answer would to allow ALL pubs to play on a level playing field. At present 600million leaves the industry through the supply tie every year and is used to service pubco debt. Remove the tie and our great industry will be able to retain most of this money and our pubs would be able to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm. The fact is at present, most of the tied tenants hatches are rotten and their hinges broken and they can't keep the bad weather out. This post replies to this thread |
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| J Mark Dodds 20/11/2008 16:04:25 |
RE: Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank' "A viable, profitable pub industry creates jobs, delivers a great service to the public, encourages more responsible drinking and also provides a sustainable revenue stream for the Treasury.” On the nail Mr Bish. But the fundamental reason the majority of pubs - the majority being those which are tied - are not viable is their underlying financial structure which is predicated upon by the relationshipi they have with the freeholders - who are the pubcos. Your manifesto should have, as its first point: REMOVAL OF THE TIE. There can be no 'positive, innovative thinking' while the anachronistic, feudal practices of pubcos continue to decimate this industry. Get rid of the inequitous trading conditions placed on publicans by their pubco masters and you'd find that pubs would better withstand the current climate. Even those who are among your membership. The tie stifles freedom of choice, innovation, investment and progress in the industry. edited by: J Mark Dodds at: 20/11/2008 16:05:28 This post replies to this thread |
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John Ellis 21/11/2008 13:23:30 |
Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank' At last! Trade "leaders" actually leading - just what we've wanted for years. However, the Chancellor's policies are nothing to do with "pubco's" nor the "tie". The pubco model is broken and it is bad but it is nothing to do with at least half of the trade. As long as pubco victims keep trying to turn every issue into a case of "get rid of pubco's / the tie, and everything will be alright", then all they do is split the trade between them and the rest of us. The pubco issue is a just and right battle to fight. However, the rest of us also have interests in all the other issues around. Please do not dilute the efforts being made on many fronts to get this government to think again. Do not give them the excuse that all the problems are NOT their fault and that they can let the pubco's take the blame for them! John Ellis Crown Inn, Oakengates This post replies to this thread |
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| John Ellis 21/11/2008 13:39:15 |
Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank' Sorry - double post! John Ellis Crown Inn, Oakengates edited by: John Ellis at: 21/11/2008 13:39:42 This post replies to this thread |
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| Stephen Corbett 21/11/2008 13:42:40 |
Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank' Point taken John, However, its still a disgrace that trade organizations systematically ignore one of the fundamental reasons for pub failures because they are frightened of reprisal from the pubcos. The tie is one of the main problems and no one, media included, is able to speak out against it through fear of writs or injunctions. This post replies to John Ellis > Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank' |
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| Stephen Corbett 21/11/2008 13:48:31 |
Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank' I for one would whole heartedly support Nick Bish and the ALMR should they ever decide to list ALL of there members problems. This post replies to this thread |
