How You Can Help the Campaign for Beer Duty Cuts

Last year’s Budget campaign was historic. Never before, have we seen three consecutive cuts in beer duty by a UK Chancellor. 

Beer duty is now 15 per cent lower than it would have been, had the beer duty escalator continued. This has resulted in millions in extra investment in Britain’s breweries and pubs and has boosted jobs in our sector by 19,000.

We are seeing increasing confidence in the industry, and greater awareness in Government of our contribution to the UK economy. 

The tax cuts were not easily won. It took tens of thousands of individual actions and contacts with MPs, lasting for several years.

This is why we need to keep the pressure up, with a campaign for a beer duty cut in the Budget on 16th March. 

There are three quick and easy ways to help:

1. Email your MP: If you visit the BBPA’s www.beerandpubjobs.co.uk website and enter your postcode it will generate a message to your local MP. Alternatively, if you know who your MP is you can then send a personal message, or use the text below.

Dear XXXXX MP
 
I am writing to you as my local MP to ask  you to support the campaign to cut beer duty. You can do this by writing to the Chancellor urging him to support the brewing and pubs sector by cutting tax on beer.
 
If you sign EDMs, you can also show your support by signing EDM 919 on beer duty.  The three, one penny cuts in beer duty in previous budgets have been very good news for local pubs, local jobs, and local pubgoers. However, beer taxes in Britain still remain among the highest in Europe. 
 
A further beer tax cut would boost pubs and jobs, and help ensure that the simple pleasure of a pint in our local, is as affordable as possible. 
 
Please let me know if you will be writing to the Chancellor or supporting EDM 919.
 
With best wishes

 
2. Spread the word: Ask friends and contacts to join you in supporting the campaign. Post on Facebook, and feel free to pass on the above to your own friends and contacts. The BBPA also have a very shareable YouTube video.
 
3. Tweet your MP: Send your local MP a message on Twitter: For example ‘please support British beer and pubs in the Budget and sign EDM 919 – we need a duty cut. #cutbeertax’ You can find your local MP on Twitter, or at http://tweetyourmp.com/
 
I do hope you can help. It will only take a moment. We showed last year what a huge difference our voices can make. Let’s do the same again!
 
With best wishes
 
Jonathan Neame
Chief Executive