TaxPayers’ Alliance calls for beer duty escalator abolition

Mash Beer Tax will see hundreds of thousands of beer mats distributed to pubs across the UK, giving the public the facts about tax on beer. It also asks pub customers to send a message to their local MP calling for action from George Osborne on 20 March, by entering their postcode on www.mashbeertax.org​.

The campaign comes two weeks after the e-petition to scrap the beer duty closed at 108,828 signatures.

“Beer is already taxed more in the UK than almost every other country in Europe,” said TPA chief executive Matthew Sinclair. “Yet another rise in beer duty at this year’s Budget would be a further blow to people already struggling with the increasing cost of living. It would also harm the scores of pubs whose existence is under threat because ever higher taxes are putting people off going for a drink.

“In opposition, Conservative and Lib Dem politicians were quick to decry the beer duty escalator for the burden it places on people wanting to enjoy a drink and the threat it poses to pubs up and down the country. They’re now in a position to do something about it.

“The abolition of the beer duty escalator is long overdue and a freeze in the rate at this year’s Budget would help people coping with so many other pressures on their finances.”

Andrew Griffiths, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, welcomed the campaign. “This campaign is backed by MPs and a united industry, and it will turn the beer duty escalator into as much of a political problem as the pasty tax and that’s going to convince the chancellor. It’s encouraging that the argument is being made by lots of people.

“The TaxPayers’ Alliance is a very effective campaigning organisation. By uniting together we are winning the argument. The window of opportunity is fast diminishing, so we have to throw everything we can at it, including the kitchen sink.”