Axe the Tax: 48 hours to save the pub
The beer and pub industry has warned the Chancellor there are just 48 hours to save the pub trade.
Industry figures, MPs and celebrities including Emmerdale actress Adele Silva, gathered at the Red Lion in Westminster to urge the Chancellor to scrap plans for 2% above inflation duty escalator.
A cross party group of MPs then signed a giant postcard and delivered it to No 10 in support of the Axe the Tax campaign.
Beer tax increased by a record 18% last year and since last year's Budget 2,000 pubs have shut with the loss of 20,000 jobs. A recent poll revealed that 90% of the population want beer tax to be frozen or reduced.
"There are 48 hours to save the pub," said British Beer and Pub Association chief executive David Long.
"Mr Darling must listen to the majority of the public and MPs and recognise that increasing beer tax at this time is wholly unjustified and to do so will be to sign a death warrant for thousands more pubs."
Mike Benner, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, added: "A decision to abandon this insane, inflation-busting tax escalator and freeze beer tax are key remedies for preventing what has previously been described as a 'bloodbath' of pub closures across the land."
Pub Landlord Al Murray said: "One third of a pint is taxed, so it's not until you're nearly halfway through your pint that you stop drinking for the government and start drinking for yourself.
"All the pubs are asking for is a level playing field — the Government will bail out the banks, but will they bail out the boozers? It's time to axe the tax."
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