Yesterday’s u-turn a ‘huge blow to brewers and pubs’
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association hit out at Jeremy Hunt’s statement yesterday, saying it will be a massive blow for pubs.
“The Chancellor’s decision today to reverse the Alcohol Duty freeze is a huge blow to brewers and pubs,” she said.
“The freeze would have delivered a £300million saving to our industry at a time when we desperately need any relief we can get, to help to keep a lid on spiralling costs and keep the price of pint affordable for pub goers this winter.
“The cost of doing business is completely out of control for pubs and brewers and the failure to act today to reduce pressures on businesses will hit them extremely hard.
”Our sector needs stability to plan and be able to keep serving communities at a reasonable price, but instead has been subject to ongoing uncertainty for too long.
“Waiting until a February budget to ease these pressures will be too late, we need the Chancellor to act before Winter really starts to bite for our brewers, pubs and the customers and we lose them forever in communities across the UK.”
