Pubs, bars, and taprooms across the UK will be pouring pints at Germany’s lower tax rates tomorrow (Friday, 9th October) as part of Drop the Pint Day. This is to highlight the potential benefits of a lower tax on pub beer ahead of the Budget later this month.
The UK has one of the highest rates of tax on pub pints in Europe. It is ten times as high as in Germany. Independent research revealed today finds that if the UK had a similar tax level as Germany it could create more than 16,000 new jobs. The research, by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr), shows that it could see 119 million extra pints being poured and boost the economy by £663 million.
Drop the Pint Day will see 65 venues across the UK reduce their price on one cask or keg of beer to German tax levels, on Friday only. This limited offer will be on a first come, first served basis.
It is in support of the Drop the Tap Tax campaign, which asks beer drinkers to sign the petition and write to their MP ahead of the Budget on 28th October. Then, the chancellor will reveal his decision on alcohol tax levels for next year.
The chancellor has the power to cut tax specifically on beer that is sold in pubs via handpulls and keg taps. The so-called Draught Relief is currently set at a 13.9% reduced rate. Independent brewers believe that boosting this could create jobs, help grow the economy, and support pubs and breweries across the UK.
“When it comes to supporting breweries and beer, the Germans do it right,” said Andy Slee, chief executive of the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), which is organising the campaign. “They understand the cultural importance and contribution they make to the local communities, and therefore have a much lower rate of tax.
“This is why pubs, bars, and taprooms across the UK will be demonstrating what a lower tax on beer could do for us by pouring beer at German duty levels for the Drop the Pint Day. Getting the chancellor to Drop the Tap Tax in his Budget would be a win-win for our community pubs, independent breweries and beer drinkers.”
The campaign petition can be found at droptaptax.com, and publicans, brewers, and hospitality venues can download posters and share the petition on social media using the hashtag #DropTapTax. It runs up to the autumn Budget, which will be held on 28th October.
Pubs supporting Drop The Tax Day
East
Legra Tap & Kitchen, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 2SF
Leigh on Sea Brewery Taproom, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 5PR
Other Monkey Brewing The Taproom, Colchester, CO1 1LB
The Billericay Brewery Taproom, Billericay, CM12 9LS
Wildcraft Tap,Coltishall, NR129NB
Midlands
20 Arches, Brackley, NN13 7DS
Blue Monkey Brewery Taproom, Giltbrook, NG16 2UZ
Bulls Head, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 3AJ
Burton Bridge Inn, Burton-on-Trent, DE14 1SY
Cheshire Cheese, Buxton, SK17 6HA
Greyhound, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1JT
Hobsons Brewery Taproom, Cleobury Mortimer, DY14 8RB
Old Poets Corner, Ashover, S45 0EW
Roebuck, Leek, ST13 5AB
Royal Exchange, Stone, ST15 8DA
Sun Inn, Stafford, ST17 4JX
The Beacon, Lichfield, WS13 6JJ
The Crafty Dragon, Whitchurch, SY13 1SE
Vat and Fiddle, Nottingham, NG2 1NB
White Horse Inn, Clun, SY7 8JA
bod Alsager, ST7 2ET
bod Lichfield, WS13 8FT
bod Matlock, DE4 3LT
bod Newport, TF10 7NE
bod Stafford, ST17 0EF
bod Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2AA
bod Stone, ST15 8AU
bod Trentham, ST4 8GG
North East
Abbeydale Beerworks, Sheffield, S7 1FL
Brass Castle Taphouse, Malton, YO17 7AB
First & Last Taproom, Bellingham, NE48 2DA
Rooster’s Brewing Co Taproom, Harrogate, HG2 8QT
The Firebrick at The Grainger Market, Newcastle, NE1 5QQ
Northern Ireland
Bullhouse East, Belfast, BT4 1HJ
North West
Jennings Brewery Taproom, Cockermouth, CA13 9NE
The Neptune Beerhouse, Maghull, L31 2HB
The Witch Tap House, Atherton, M46 0EQ
West Walls Brewing Taproom, Carlisle, CA3 8UB
Wincle Beer Taproom, Macclesfield, SK11 0QE
Scotland
Sulwath Brewers Taproom, Dumfries & Galloway, DG7 1DT
South East
Elusive Brewing Taproom, RG40 4RF
Langham Brewery Taproom, Petworth, GU28 9BU
Off the Rails, Alton, GU34 5HN
Royal Blenheim, Oxford, OX1 1PT
Siren RG1, Reading, RG1 1HP
Siren Tap Yard, Wokingham, RG40 4RF
The Market Tap, Oxford, OX1 3EQ
The Montefiore Arms, Ramsgate, CT11 7HJ
The Tite Inn, Chadlington, OX7 3NY
Unit 4 Taproom, Windsor, SL4 1SE
London
40ft Brewery Taproom, London, E17 5RB
Hammerton Tap, London, N7 8XH
House of Hammerton, London, N7 8LT
Orbit Beer’s Taproom, London, SE17 3HD
South West
Exeter Brewery Taproom, Exeter, EX4 4NX
Flow & Tracks, Lostwithiel, PL22 0HG
Mason Brewing Co Taproom, Threemilestone, TR4 9LD
Siren Cheltenham, GL50 4FA
The Fallen Tree, Clevedon, BS21 7PD
The Hour Glass, Exeter, EX2 4AU
Treen’s Brewery Taproom, Ponsanooth, TR3 7JW
Wales
Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd, CF37 4DA
Magic Dragon Brewery Tap, Wrexham, LL13 8BT
The Little Bar on the Bridge, Bridgend, CF31 1JH
The Market Tavern, Haverfordwest, SA61 1NH
