The Windsor Framework deal, agreed with the EU over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland, will allow the UK to set excise rules on alcohol there.
Belfast city centre
This means that plans to introduce a new, lower rate of duty for draught beer and cider will now apply to Northern Ireland, too.
“This is an important principle that tax on beer and cider should be lower when it is served on tap, reflecting the benefits of enjoying a pint in a controlled setting and the positive impacts that our pubs have on bringing people together and tackling loneliness and social isolation,” said Ruth Sloan, chair of CAMRA Northern Ireland.
“It is great news that NI’s hospitality venues will now be able to benefit from the new, lower duty rate, to help our pubs survive and thrive.
“Whilst this is welcome news, if NI’s beer scene is to expand and thrive, as it has elsewhere on these islands, we desperately need the next Executive here to properly modernise our outdated licensing laws.
“This is essential if new, smaller, and specialist pubs can open, and so local and independent breweries and cider producers can have a fair crack of the whip against the multinational brewing giants.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “It is good news that progress has been made on this deal. We hope it will deliver a level of clarity and certainty for pub and brewing businesses in Northern Ireland, which has been needed for some time, although we recognise that some issues will inevitably remain.
“Allowing pubs and breweries across all devolved nations to benefit from reforms to beer duty is particularly welcome, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with both businesses and government to help ensure a fair taxation deal for our industry everywhere.”
