Gloves are off over duty rises

MA launches new anti-hike campaign

MPs urged to back Early Day Motion

The Morning Advertiser is urging pubs to fight plans for massive alcohol tax hikes over the next four years.

Automatic rises of inflation-plus-2% each year could spell disaster for pubs — so the MA is hitting back with its Fight the Hikes campaign.

Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe offered hope last week, when he told the MA the Chancellor may re-think the hikes if the industry "gets its act together".

This week, hosts are being encouraged to send a template letter to their MP urging support for a new anti-alcohol tax-hike Early Day Motion — a petition for MPs — from Liberal Democrat Greg Mulholland. The letter also asks the MP to visit the pub to discuss problems face to face.

In addition, licensees can get customers involved by displaying a petition to Chancellor Alistair Darling, downloadable from the MA's website (see box).

"The Government has put an escalator on drinks duty — we need to escalate our disapproval!" said Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish.

"Well done the MA in taking this step."

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: "It's an excellent idea to rally behind lower taxes for the industry. Higher excise duty hits pubs much harder than anyone else. I'm glad the Morning Advertiser has taken a lead."

The Campaign for Real Ale's research and information manager Iain Loe said: "We totally support campaigns to put pressure on Darling and the Prime Minister not to continue this insane hike in excise duty."

The Federation of Small Businesses said: "The FSB supports the MA's alcohol tax campaign. This is yet another burden for small community pubs, which are already struggling to survive."

Steve Haslam, licensee of the Cutter Inn at Ely, Cambs, said: "We must band together to tell the Government that this Budget will irreversibly damage the trade."

Shepherd Neame boss Jonathan Neame told MPs last week that 8,000 pubs could close due to the hikes.

Get involved

Visit www.morningadvertiser.co.uk and:

n Download a copy of the template letter to your local MP, urging them to sign EDM 1330 — which condemns the "ill-judged" duty hike that will lead to pub closures. The letter asks MPs to visit pubs to discuss the issues face

to face.

n Download a Fight the Hikes poster and display it in your pub.

n Put up Fight the Hikes petitions in your pub for customers to sign.

n Remember, you can still download Donkey Darling posters to let the Chancellor know he is barred. A new poster of Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe — who is "Pub Pal No.1" for calling for a re-think on the duty increases — can also be downloaded.