BBPA report strengthens case for Budget beer duty freeze

The report, by research experts Oxford Economics for the BBPA, also revealed that the industry pays out £11bn in wages, and adds £22bn to the economy. Of those 900,000 jobs, almost half (44%) are younger workers aged 16 to 24. 

According to the report the industry makes “a significant contribution to every part of the UK”, and it highlights that there are some local hotspots, such as Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, where the industry is the backbone of the local economy.

Brewing sustains 80,000 UK jobs, but it is in pubs where the jobs impact is most felt, with 820,000 posts, the report reveals.

More than 1,000 breweries​

Britain now has more than 1,000 breweries (1,092), with the south-west boasting the most (142).

The industry also provides £12bn in total taxes — enough to fund the Government’s entire transport budget.

Writing in the report, Adrian Cooper, chief executive officer of Oxford Economics, said: “Our findings again demonstrate that the importance of the beer and pub sector to the UK economy should not be underestimated.

"An important source of employment and output in every region, its activity provides significant tax contributions, investment, flexible working conditions and opportunities for young people to enter the labour market.”

Vital to economy​

Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, said: “These 900,000 jobs are vital to the UK economy. The Chancellor’s duty cut last year was hugely popular, and boosted jobs by 10,000.

“Let’s make sure that the benefits are not undone this year — we need a beer-duty freeze in the Budget.”

The full report, soon to be available, will show the impact of the industry in every Parliamentary constituency in the country.