DUMP THE MONKS
Campaigners call for Buckfast brewers to lose charitable status and pay more tax
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for the monks who make Buckfast to be stripped of their charitable status.
The National Secular Society – who work to challenge religious privilege – claim the tonic wine causes “social harm”.
Buckie was mentioned in almost 6500 crime reports in Strathclyde in just two years.
The drink has been made by monks at Buckfast Abbey in Devon since the 1920s.
Buckfast Abbey Trust’s income for 2014-15 was £8.8million – mostly from the drink. The trust do not pay tax on the income because they are charity. The National Secular Society claim it is an “abuse of the charitable system”.
They have called on the Charity Commission to remove the trust’s charitable status.
Society vice president Alistair McBay said: “The monks should be setting an example as a religious organisation but the opposite is happening.
“Charitable status and the accompanying tax benefits should only be granted to organisations that deliver a demonstrable public benefit.”
The trust justify their charitable status by saying their aim is the “advancement of the Roman Catholic religion”.
The Charity Commission promised to “assess the information about the Buckfast Abbey Trust to determine if there is a regulatory role for the commission”.
A spokesman for the trust said: “Buckfast Abbey is surprised to learn of the complaint made by the National Secular Society.
“If required, Buckfast Abbey will be speaking directly with the commission on this matter.”