UK remains near top of EU beer tax league

Tax levels on UK beer remain the third highest in Europe - with British drinkers paying nine times the duty rate of their German counterparts, new figures have revealed.

British beer drinkers also pay more in duty on a single UK pint, than the combined duty on five pints from each of the five other largest member states, according to the figures from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Out of 27 EU countries only Ireland and Finland still impose higher rates of duty than the UK, according to the study.

The figures show that Finland pays a whopping 61.74 pence per pint, while the UK level is 45.89 pence per pint.

Last year the UK figure was 42.5 pence per pint. In 2007 this figure was 39p.

David Long, the BBPA's chief executive, said: "With elections to the European Parliament taking place next week, beer lovers will note the extent to which they are being taxed above and beyond other consumers in the rest of the EU.

"We hope that those MEPs elected as a result of these elections will stand up for British beer lovers and the great British pub."

The figures were compiled as part of the on-going Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub campaign, launched by the BBPA and the Campaign for Real Ale last year. More than 70,000 people have joined or supported the campaign, including more than 200 MPs.

Pence per pint, April 2009

Finland 61.74

Ireland 51.99

UK 45.89

Sweden 43.15

Denmark 19.42

Slovenia 17.95

Netherlands 17.08

Italy 14.76

Estonia 12.88

Austria 12.56

Cyprus 12.51

Hungary 11.12

Belgium 10.74

Slovakia 10.36

Poland 9.46

Portugal 9.05

Greece 8.54

France 6.91

Lithuania 6.44

Spain 5.71

Czech 5.55

Latvia 5.35

Luxembourg 4.98

Germany 4.94

Bulgaria 4.82

Malta 4.71

Romania 4.15