Pub industry steps up calls for fresh tax breaks

Scotland’s £1.7 billion beer and pub industry has stepped up calls for tax breaks similar to those introduced south of the border when the Scottish Budget is unveiled today.

The industry safeguards 66,800 jobs in Scotland and is worth an estimated £1.66bn to GDP north of the Border, a report by Oxford Economics found. The industry is also behind about £176 million of capital investment.

The largest economic benefits are in Glasgow and the Lothians, with more than 24,000 people employed in the sector across Scotland’s two biggest cities.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, said: “This report shows the huge economic contribution of beer and pubs to local communities across Scotland. To continue to grow the sector however, we desperately need further support from government, particularly for Scotland’s pubs in the form of business rate relief.

“As this report shows, the beer and pub industry in Scotland pays close to £1bn in tax every single year, but recent cost increases have significantly reduced the profitability of many pubs.

“This was recognised by the UK government for pubs in England with Philip Hammond providing a relief for all pubs rated under £51,000 in his Budget in October. A similar relief for pubs in Scotland would allow the sector to continue to invest and provide new jobs.”