Football fans back beer duty reduction

Football fans are backing industry calls for a reduction on beer duty if VAT rises at the Budget on 22 June.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has teamed up with the Football Supporters Federation (FSF) to lobby the Chancellor through the I'm backing the pub website.

If VAT rises to 20%, coupled with a beer tax rise, the price of a pint could rocket 20p on the eve of England's third group game against Slovenia on 23 June.

The BBPA is calling for any VAT rise to be off-set by a parallel cut in beer duty as a targeted measure to help community pubs. Regardless of any VAT rises, the campaign calls for a freeze in beer duty.

Duty has risen a total of 1,000% since England last won the World Cup in 1966 — from 3.6p a pint in 1966 to 39p a pint today.

Duty on beer has risen by 26% — a £760m tax rise — in the last two years alone and dozens of pubs are closing every week across the country.

Beer tax is eight times higher than in France, ten times higher than in Spain and 11 times higher than England's old rivals, Germany.

"Fans already pay enough out over the course of a season without having to worry about another hike in the price of a pint," said FSF director of communications Michael Brunskill.

"Let's hope the taxman doesn't spoil our World Cup — that's normally the job of the Germans!"

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds added: "Beer accounts for 60% of sales in community pubs, so beer tax increases have a direct impact on British pubs. A further tax hike on top of the 26% increase of the last two years will hit hundreds of thousands of fans going to their local to watch England at the World Cup.

"Beer duty has increased by an incredible 1,000% since the last time England won the World Cup. All of us will be cheering on England this time and the Government must heed the call to give beer a break."