Fairer beer tax could create 30,000 jobs
Around 30,000 new jobs could be created if beer was given a fairer deal in alcohol duty, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has claimed.
New research, undertaken by Oxford Economics for the BBPA, shows that the current tax system is discouraging the consumption of low-strength drinks such as beer — with lower tax revenues and fewer jobs the result.
The BBPA wants the Government to use its current review to move the UK to a more balanced duty system that is much more in line with neighbouring countries.
Oxford Economics said that 29,500 jobs would be created, mostly in pubs and the wider hospitality sector, if the duty system was rebalanced between different types of drinks.
The BBPA claims the current UK tax regime penalises beer, which is both low-strength and overwhelmingly UK-produced. The result is that alcohol in the form of beer costs 42p per unit on average, compared to 37p for vodka, 38p for gin, and 33p for cider.
The Oxford Economics analysis looked at the impact on the UK economy of moving to a system more in line with Ireland, where the duty rate for difference types of drinks increases more significantly with strength.
In addition, the change in approach would bring in around £250m in extra revenues, from employment taxes and corporation tax.
"The new Government now has a great opportunity to bring fairness into our duty system - with huge potential benefits for the Treasury and the UK economy," said BBPA chief executive Brgid Simmonds.
"A fair deal for beer would create a win-win situation for all. Beer is unique among the main categories of drink, with Britain's pubs dependent on beer sales. Over 90% of the beer consumed here is brewed here.
"We've had many years of duty changes that have favoured other categories of drink - yet taxing beer fairly would create thousands of new jobs, and substantial extra tax revenues.
"Beer is also a low alcohol drink of choice and should be treated differently to other stronger alcoholic beverages. There is potential for a huge success story that could be grasped by the new Government. Everyone would benefit from a new and fair approach."
