Government still has time to scrap the duty escalator, claims Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin

Speaking in support of the industry campaign to scrap the escalator Martin said that to do nothing is “not an option”.

Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon said: “British beer drinkers pay 40% of the Euro beer tax bill when consuming only 13% of the beer sold in Europe. A beer tax break will create much-needed jobs.

“With u-turns from Number Eleven all the rage, the Chancellor still has time to amend the Finance Bill to halt the beer duty escalator.”

The industry petition, which has hit 55,000 signatures, has the support of a range of a range of organisations including the Publican’s Morning Advertiser. CAMRA, British Beer & Pub Association, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, Everards, Wetherspoons and SIBA.

If the petition hits 100,000 signatures it will force a debate on the issue in the House of Commons.

This week the campaign received a boost with the launch of a new viral campaign video produced by the BBPA. The animated video, links beer duty to Euro 2012 and describes how the UK pays 13 times more beer tax than the Germans, nine times more than the French and 12 times more than the Spanish.

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) is urging licensees and their customers to get on board and sign the petition.

Rob Willock, group editor of the PMA, said: “Come on PMA readers. Get yourselves and your customers signed up to the petition otherwise Chancellor George Osborne, who wouldn’t know a pint of beer if your poured it over his head, will get the entirely wrong message.

“Get your staff to prompt customers to do it. Tell them their beer will be cheaper in the long term if they do, and cripplingly more expensive if they don’t.”

Go to www.saveyourpint.co.uk ​