If you can’t get to Russia for kick-off, wet your whistle down at the pub!
THE British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has predicted that England fans will drink 14 million extra pints in the pub during the World Cup group stages as they cheer on the England team in their games against Tunisia, Panama and Belgium, writes Neville Grundy.
The extra number of pints drunk during the World Cup group stages could provide as much as a £42m boost to the economy, with the great British pub being one of the main benefactors of a surge in demand for beer as fans cheer on the England team at their local.
The Chancellor will be cheering the loudest as England progress through the group stages of the competition.
Beer duty, the extra tax put on beer as well as VAT, will mean that the Treasury could get an additional windfall of as much as £6.3m from beer drinkers and pub-goers watching England at the World Cup.
With the convenient timings of England’s group stage fixtures (the Three Lions played Tunisia on Monday evening after work, the same will go for the Belgium game as well as Panama at the weekend), as well as fewer fans travelling to the tournament itself to catch the games, the great British pub is set to be the place to watch England’s World Cup matches this summer.
BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds comments: “When it comes to watching England at the World Cup, only being at the game itself can compare with being in the pub.
“Millions of England fans will be going to the pub to cheer on the team with their friends, which is both great for the local pub and great for the England team.
“Let’s hope the England team do us proud!”
With thanks to the BBPA for the information.
FESTIVAL NEWS
The Reet Good Beer Festival takes place from June 21-24 at Mesnes Park Field, Wigan.
There will be a large selection of ales to try from breweries from Wigan borough, the North West and further afield, as well as ciders, perries and Prosecco.
With themed musical evenings as well, it’s all for charity.
More details and tickets from: tiny.cc/74oouy.
Southport and West Lancs Camra website is at www.southport.camra.org. uk. Previous articles are on tinyurl.com/vis-pubs.