Government taxes put skids under their efforts, beer bosses warn
By: JimOldfield
May 13th, 2012
The boss of Britain’s biggest pub chain has slammed the rising cost of beer, saying it is creating a “serious” north-south divide, with new pubs only opening in city centres and the affluent south.
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin (pictured) spoke out as CAMRA revealed that 12 pubs a week are being shut across Britain as a direct result of the Government’s crippling beer taxes.
CAMRA highlighted the closure of 300 community pubs in just six months – with Lancashire the worst hit area, followed by London and the West Midlands.
Lancashire lost 68 pubs between September and March, at the rate of more than two a week – with 43 shutting in London and 37 in the West Midlands.
CAMRA says that of the average 12 weekly closures, some eight victims are suburban and four in rural areas.
Ironically, the damage being done to the country’s pubs threatens to put the skids under one of Britain’s few flourishing industries.
Real ale brewing and micro-brewing has bucked the economic slump, with an average of two breweries a week opening their doors over the past 18 months.
Tens of thousands of angry drinkers have now signed a national e-petition organised by Hobgoblin to bring an end to the over- inflation tax increases and CAMRA says if 100,000 sign, it can force a Parliamentary debate.
It accused the Government of “ripping the heart out of communities” with what it called “crippling” duties.
CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner said: “Whether situated in a small village, city high street, or on the edge of a housing estate, pubs are so central to our society that whole communities can grow around a particular pub.
“Unsustainable beer tax increases by the Government are ripping the heart out of community centres.
“CAMRA is now campaigning to secure 100,000 (e-petition) signatures, which would force Parliament to debate above inflation rises in beer duty.”
Mr Martin, who founded JD Wetherspoon’s 800-pub real ale empire, added that “unsustainable” rises in beer taxes were forcing pubcos to concentrate new ale houses in well-off areas, where people could afford the higher prices.
He said: “The overall level of taxes have greater economic effect in less affluent parts of the UK.
“The result is that the majority of prominent pub and catering companies are investing in the southern part of the UK and in major towns and city centres elsewhere, contributing to serious economic problems for many high streets.”
Meanwhile, he said, the “out of touch” Government’s tax structure was forcing more pubs to close, damaging overall employment.
And Mr Martin asked: “Why do they need a subsidy in the House of Commons bar if the price is beer is not too expensive? That’s the only question you need to ask.”
To see CAMRA’s full list of closures, county by county, hit the link below.
Hand-Pumped links:
http://www.camra.org.uk/countypubclosures
To view the latest figure for the e-petition, click here: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29664
