Pubs mobilise to fight the hikes

Licensees are mobilising behind the Fight the Hikes​ campaign in a bid to force a rethink on the massive alcohol duty rises promised for the next four years.

The MA's campaign has struck a chord with licensees who are now urging others to get involved.

The automatic rises of inflation-plus-2% each year could spell disaster for pubs across the country.

An MA online poll showed that 62% believed that the future hikes could be overturned, especially when considered in the same light as the fuel duty protest.

Let's do this and show Brown & co that we will not go away until they listen to us and make proposals to support, not kill this great British institution​Darren CheesmanLicensee

The MA asked licensees to put up a petition for customers to sign against the hikes as the first step in the campaign.

"I am certainly going to participate in this national effort to bring to the notice of the British people that if they don't back their local in this campaign, the local will inevitably cease to exist,"​ said Rebecca Elliott of the Craven Arms in Coventry, West Midlands.

Steve Marquis of the Blue Bell Inn in Halkyn, Flintshire said: " We've banned the Chancellor, now we're on the case to raise the petition.​

"I think we have to band together and sound the large loud voice of our customer base to make sure that it is understood how far off the mark the budget was.

"It would seem that the best place to start would be from our customer base, building on from the successful momentum a petition gains and hopefully use that to push some organised lobbying from a unified organisation.

Let's give a strong message that we aim to fight tooth and nail to save our pubs​Ellen LeeLicensee

"We have far too many interested parties, we really need them all to get around the table together and form a lobbying group with one responsible voice shouting for all of us."​

Stick together​

Ellen Lee, licensee at the Fox & Hounds in Swindon, Wiltshire added: "The posters are up, the petition is underway, we have to stick together on this. ​

"It is easy to feel isolated in this business and feel you are the only one worried about the threat to pubs.

"Let's give a strong message that we aim to fight tooth and nail to save our pubs."

Even other licensed premises are joining in the campaign. Darren Cheesman, manager of Peterborough Milton Golf Club, said he had hit the town centre to gather signatures for the petition.

"Let's do this and show Brown & co that we will not go away until they listen to us and make proposals to support, not kill this great British institution,"​ he said.

West Midlands host Chris Lea urged his fellow licensees: "Let's stick together and fight this."​

GET INVOLVED!​

Follow these easy steps:​

1. Download a Fight the Hikes Poster​ and put it up in your pub.

2. Download the Fight The Hikes Petition ​ and get your regulars to join the campaign. Consumer support is vital.

3. Download Extra Petition Sheets​.

4. Download the Fight the Hikes Letter​ and send it to your MP. It asks them to sign an EDM condemning the duty hikes, tells them about the campaign and invites them to the pub to discuss the issues first hand.

5. Find your MP's contact details here. Post or email him the letter.

6. Send your completed petitions to Fight the Hikes, Morning Advertiser, William Reed Business Media, Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9RT.

7. Join the Fight the Hikes Facebook group​.

8. Take a picture of you, staff and customers with the poster and petition and email it to Ewan.Turney@william-reed.co.uk​.

• Remember you can also Ban the Chancellor from your pub by clicking here​.