BBPA to launch beer tax campaign
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is to launch a campaign aimed at axeing Government plans to increase beer tax for the next four years.
The campaign follows the Morning Advertiser's Fight the Hikes campaign, which similarly aims to get the Government change its mind over plans revealed in the Budget to increase beer duty by inflation plus 2% for the next four budgets.
Director of communications Mark Hastings said: "The purpose is to mobilise the support of our consumers, pubs and brewing employees and give them a focused voice in the current debates.
"This phase of the campaign is due to run through the autumn and into spring next year.
"It is branded — 'Axe the beer tax — save the pub'."
The campaign will have be a dedicated campaign website — axethebeertax.com — and a key element is to drive traffic (both trade and, in particular, consumers) to the site where people will be able to access campaign materials, register support, send letters and emails to MPs, access briefings and media commentary.
The "manifesto" that will form part of the campaign contains five key demands of Government and politicians in all parties:
1. Stop Government plans to increase beer tax by up to a third.
2. To support the British pub as a vital part of social life in local communities.
3. To enforce existing laws — not create new ones — to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and premises.
4. To end all irresponsible pricing of alcohol in supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere.
5. To trust responsible adults to make informed choices about what they drink, not punish them for the actions of an irresponsible minority.
On the Chancellor's beer tax plans, licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe told the Morning Advertiser in April: "We, and I speak as a champion of the pub trade, want the Chancellor to change his mind.
"The next opportunity will be the pre-Budget report in November. But the industry has got to get its act together."
