The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is calling on all political parties to implement policies not just to support the nation’s pubs, but to unlock their economic and social value.
It is calling for a meaningful reform in the unfair business rates calculations which see pubs burdened with disproportionate rates, squeezing margins further.
It is imploring the next government to extend the current 75% relief for pubs, which is set to expire in March 2025. Extending this relief will offer much-needed financial stability while a new business rates framework is developed.
It is also calling for an end to the excessively high rate of beer duty that UK drinkers pay on every pint, including specific cuts to draught and lower-strength rates. This measure will support brewers, maintain the affordability of beer, and promote the emergence of local brewing industries, supporting local economies even further.
The BBPA proposes a lower rate of VAT for food and drink sold in pubs. This policy would level the playing field and encourage greater patronage of pubs across the UK.
“In this year of the 200th anniversary of the British pint, the policies set out in the Beer and Pub manifesto are crucial to the survival and prosperity of pubs across the UK,” said Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA.
“We know how much pubs contribute not just to the communities in which they sit, but the economies they support locally, regionally and nationally. Extending business rates relief and reducing beer duty, will go a long way to provide the stability and support our industry needs.
“These measures will help ensure that pubs remain vibrant community hubs, and with the playing field levelled, that they don’t just survive, but they thrive for centuries to come.”
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