According to the trade body, some 14m extra pints could be poured across the on-trade this month thanks to two bank holidays and VE Day compared to a month without.
It estimated an additional 1m pints could have been sold in pubs on VE Day alone, thanks in part to the licensing hours extension, which allowed them to stay open until 1am.
The additional pints mean the sector could deliver an extra £69m in sales for the economy, generating £11.5m in VAT and £6.5m in beer duty compared to a month with no bank holidays or VE Day.
Perfect location
However, the boost comes as the sector continues to wrestle with a barrage of extra tax and fees following April’s cliff-edge, which is costing the industry an extra £853m, the BBPA said.
BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Many of us chose to spend our local pub, a home away from home, as the perfect location to spend the sunny long weekends and to celebrate VE Day.
“These figures demonstrate how vital such occasions are to our sector, which is battling new costs including higher business rates bills, unfair and chaotic packaging fees, and soaring new employment costs.”
It comes as data from the BBPA recently revealed the average price of a pint has broken the £5 barrier for the first time, partly due to rising costs placed upon the sector.
Avalanche of fees
To combat cost pressures, the BBPA has called on the Government to enact the business rate reformation promised in its manifesto, review EPR costs, mitigate new employment fees, and ensuring flexibility under the Employment Rights Bill.
McClarkin added: “Following the avalanche of new fees in April which saw new costs hit the industry, the BBPA is calling on the Government to ease the burdens placed upon the sector.
“We urge the Government to support our sector by reforming business rates, reviewing punishing EPR costs, and mitigating new employment fees so that it can continue to drive the UK economy’s growth and supporting local jobs.”
