Budget – do you want the good news or the bad news?
I’M sure most of us have had enough of the Budget speech, especially the embarrassing jokes, writes Neville Grundy.
However, as a service to drinkers, we in CAMRA have picked out the bits that relate to beer, cider and pubs.
the duty on beer, wine and spirits will remain the same, which should help to restrain price rises and keep our British pub-going tradition affordable.
CAMRA proposes that this freeze be made long term, and is calling on brewers and pub companies to match the Chancellor’s support by holding beer prices so that local pub-goers benefit.
This is particularly important in a society which is still experiencing austerity after more than seven years, with many of our fellow citizens on the minimum wage and zero hours contracts.
Unfortunately, there is a growing number of people for
Beer duty:
whom pub-going is becoming an unaffordable luxury.
The British pub has always been a sociable meeting place for the ordinary men and women in the street, and it is regrettable that those with the least money are becoming excluded on cost grounds.
CAMRA welcomes the Chancellor’s decision to extend the £1,000 rate relief for pubs in England for one more year.
This shows that the Government is aware of the threats facing English pubs, although much more needs to be done.
CAMRA is arguing that this relief be made permanent and increased to £5,000 a year.
We are also pressing for a wholesale review of the whole system of business rates, which unfairly penalises pubs and rewards online retailers.
there is a new tax band for cider and perry with alcohol content between 6.9% and 7.5%.
Business rates: Cider duty:
This is specifically aimed at cheap white cider, often cited as a problem for alcoholics and homeless people because it is cheap and strong.
However, many of our artisan cidermakers will find themselves caught up in a duty trap which wasn’t even intended for them.
CAMRA national chair Colin Valentine said: “This will be disappointing news for a number of traditional cider producers, who will be hit by this measure unless an exemption for traditional produce can be secured.”
Overall, it is not a bad Budget for the drinker, but let’s hope that no small cidermakers suffer Time will tell – it always does,” as the doctor once said.
The Southport and West Lancs CAMRA website is at: www.southport.camra.org.uk.
For previous CAMRA articles in this paper, go to: tinyurl.com/ vis-pubs.