Scrap the beer duty escalator petition hits 100,000 signature target

However, Andrew Griffiths MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, said this is only the “end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end”.

The escalator, introduced in 2008 by former Chancellor Alistair Darling, puts up the tax on a pint by 2% above inflation every year, and has resulted in a 42% tax hike since 2008.

Hitting the 100,000 target should prompt a debate in the Commons, although this is not automatic, according to Parliamentary procedure.

Greg Mulholland MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, along with Griffiths, will push for a full three-hour discussion among MPs.

The two MPs will now have to present the motion to the backbench business committee, which is responsible for scheduling debates on e-petitions. The committee meets weekly to consider subjects for debate, but it is unlikely to take place until after the party conferences, which end in late October.

Griffiths said: “The beer-duty escalator introduced by Labour and continued by this Government is damaging pubs and urgently needs to be scrapped. Reaching 100,000 signatures is a landmark opportunity to hold the Government to account and debate the effect this is having on the industry.

“This is the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end. There is still a great deal more work to do to get a change in tax policy. We shouldn’t kid ourselves that we are anywhere near achieving that. There needs to be a continued effort.”

Mulholland added: “It’s high time the Government noticed the level of beer duty we pay in this country. The tax is damaging to Britain’s pubs and breweries.”

CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) has ramped up the pressure by announcing it is to hold a Mass Parliamentary Lobby in Westminster on Wednesday December 12, with over 1,000 people expected to attend. Attendees will be asking to speak to their respective local MPs, and seeking their support to protect the nation’s  beer and pub industry.

Colin Valentine, CAMRA national chairman, said: "Joining a very small minority of e-petitions to have ever reached the 100,000 landmark is a mammoth achievement, and it’s been fantastic to witness the beer and pub industry uniting to fight back against this issue.

"CAMRA’s next step is not to rest on our laurels but to maintain the impetus with our Mass Parliamentary Lobby, which will reinforce to MPs the groundswell of support for this campaign. With all the battering it has taken, the beer and pub sector still manages to contribute over £21 billion a year to the UK’s GDP, and supports one million jobs, so it’s about time the Government honoured its pledge to be pub friendly."

British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds added: “Thanks to the huge numbers who are supporting the campaign, this should be a real wake-up call for the Government. I hope even more people will now sign, as further huge annual tax hikes must not go ahead. They are hurting pubs and destroying our ability to create much needed jobs.”

While Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, said: “It is great news that the petition has now reached 100,000 signatures.

“This is as a result of a wide range of people in the pub industry as well as pubgoers coming together to tell the government exactly how they feel over this unfair tax.

“Pubs are an integral part of Great Britain and it is important that the government takes note of the frustration of those involved in the industry. We trust that they will once again look at the issue, in the light of this excellent campaign.”

The e-petition was launched in February by Wychwood Brewery. Marketing manager Chris Keating said: “The hard work begins now to ensure our voices are heard when the debate hits the Commons.”

Sign the e-petition at www.saveyourpint.co.uk​

Go to www.saveyourpintlobby.org.uk​ for details on the mass lobby.