CAMRA demands support to save further closures
The group has raised concerns the trend of small breweries going out of business and pubs closing their doors could increase if help isn’t unveiled in the Spring Budget.
CAMRA is aiming to mobilise pubgoers and beer drinkers in their thousands to call on MPs to back the campaign to save the country’s pubs.
It is calling on the Chancellor to use the Budget to reveal a 20% duty cut on draught beer and cider to help pubs, social clubs and taprooms compete with supermarket alcohol when the new alcohol taxation system is introduced in August.
Organisation asks
The organisation is also calling for assurance the amount of help hospitality firms receive towards their energy bills will continue at its current level until spring next year.
Its third ask is for the Government to introduce a permanent lower business rates multiplier for hospitality businesses in England to recognise their community value with funding for governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to do the same.
CAMRA has urged pubgoers to use its e-lobby tool, which identifies their local MP and provides a template letter, calling for them to back the campaign to save the country’s pubs and breweries.
Under threat
CAMRA chairman Nik Antona said: “Local pubs and breweries are at the heart of communities, bringing people together and tackling social isolation – but many are under threat of closing down for good due to the rising costs, spiralling energy bills and punters tightening their belts.
“If we want our pubs to survive and thrive in the months and years ahead, the Government needs to use the upcoming Budget to announce a support package to save our pubs and breweries.
“Without help, we risk losing our much-loved community pubs for good and face more small and independent breweries shutting up shop – reducing choice for drinkers up and down the country.”
CAMRA previously called for further support before the Government slashed the energy help for the sector from Saturday 1 April.
Earlier this month (January) the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) also urged the Government to help the sector in the Budget.
Chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “We need to Chancellor to deliver long-term interventions for our sector in his Spring Budget to help us focus on growth and investment of just holding on from one crisis to the next.”
