Congestion charge could mean more expensive pint
London Mayor Ken Livingstone's controversial decision to charge motorists £5 a day to drive into central London could lead to a more expensive pint. The congestion charge - which comes into effect in London on February 17th - will force motorists entering the city centre between 7am and 6.30pm on Monday to Friday to pay a tax of £5.
Mr Livingstone says the charge will reduce traffic congestion in London's city centre by 15 per cent and cut journey times by 30 per cent. Currently 250, 000 motorists drive into the city centre on weekdays.
But brewers delivering beer to pubs and bars in the city will also be forced to fork out the extra cash -a cost that may be passed onto the licensee.
London-based brewer Fuller's said the congestion charge could mean it will have to put its prices up. "All costs of legislation that are applied, have to be paid for somewhere in the business - and the congestion charge is no exception," a spokeswoman said.
"We are weighing up the increases of all costs that impact on our business before we determine the level of increase this year - this includes not just the congestion charge, but increased labour costs, pensions, national insurance, fuel, raw materials, parking costs and a whole host of other factors," she added.
But Young's, which is also based in London, said it would not be putting its prices up. Spokesman Michael Hardman said: "It's not that serious. It's something that we can clearly do without but we won't be putting the price of beer up."
