Majority of Brits against beer duty hikes

Two-thirds of the British public want the Government to ditch its controversial beer tax escalator in Wednesday's Budget.

The poll, conducted by ComRes on behalf of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), revealed that 63% also believe that low alcoholic strength products, such as beer, should be taxed at a lower rate.

Nearly six in ten people (59%) think Government taxation and red tape are responsible for the pub closure rate of 39 a week.

Duty is set to rise a further 2% above inflation this Wednesday but the industry has pleaded for a rethink following duty hikes of nearly 20% over the past two years.

The poll follows a letter to the Chancellor from 40 chairmen and chief executives of Britain's leading brewers and pub companies calling for the duty escalator to be scrapped.

A recent study by Oxford Economics estimated that the increase in beer tax will cost 59,000 jobs and lead to a £9 billion loss in economic activity.

"The beer and pub industry has been hit hard by recession with 4,000 pubs having closed over the last two years and beer sales down by £650m in the last year. Recently, we have seen some tentative signs of recovery, but this will be put at risk with more tax hikes now," said BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds.

"The vast majority of voters agree too. They do not want to see further beer tax increases and they would like to see beer — a British-made, low-alcohol drink — taxed differently from other drinks.

"The Chancellor should listen to the economic arguments and to the views of the voters: freeze beer duty and give beer a break."