Changes to the alcohol duty system, coming into effect in a month’s time, will have an unforeseen effect on beer festivals, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
From 1st August, a new, lower, draught duty rate which will apply on many draught beer and cider containers.
However, the legislation underpinning the new system bans any sales from draught duty-paid containers for consumption off the premises, which includes from beer festivals, says CAMRA.
Its mailout to festival organisers adds that bottled and canned beers and ciders can still be sold to customers to take away. These must have been purchased bottled or canned, rather than dispensed from a draught duty-paid container.
“We are instructing all CAMRA festivals to stop making any take-away draught sales from 1st August, 2023 (regardless of whether the draught container has had the general or draught duty rate paid on it) as this is the simplest way to ensure compliance with the new legislation and avoid having to implement extra checks and processes on site,” says CAMRA. “The situation will be reviewed by the Events Committee in September 2023.”
