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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 140 Autumn 2009

 Download a copy as a PDF file - 1.0 MB

AXE THE BEER TAX

Save The Pub

Britain's pubs are under severe and sustained pressure. Sales of beer in pubs are now at their lowest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and 36 pubs are closing every week. More than 44,000 jobs were lost from the industry between 2000 and 2005 - and further redundancies are inevitable. CAMRA has predicted that up to 7,500 pubs could be lost by the end of 2012.

The situation is being made worse by the impact of the wider economic slowdown. Pub goers are facing a New Year kick in the teeth with CAMRA predicting the price of a pint could go up by at least 8p.

From 1 January next year, the chancellor is returning VAT to its usual 17.5 per cent when the temporary period at the current lower rate, designed to stimulate the economy, comes to an end.

But, Alastair Darling says he has no plans to change the excise duty on beer, which was increased by 8 per cent in last year's pre-budget report, to compensate for the cut in VAT and ensure retailers didn't drop the price of beer.

CAMRA's head of policy and parliamentary affairs Jonathan Mail said: "It really is time the chancellor gave pubs a break. By not cutting the duty rise he is foisting yet another tax increase on the pub-going public."

With tax already taking up a third of the price of a pint of beer, further hikes can only accelerate the decline of the pub.

Pubs play a vital role in the social life of communities up and down the country - and are an essential part of promoting a more responsible drinking culture. It is time to stand up for a Great British tradition and save the pub.

Over 58,000 people have joined the Facebook group in support of lower beer tax, and over 25,000 emails have been sent to MPs. In total over 70,000 members of the public have given their support to the campaign via the Axe the Beer Tax - Save the Pub website, Facebook and Twitter.

How can you help?

Now the Huntingdonshire branch of CAMRA brings this campaign to our area. We want local CAMRA members and pub users reading Opening Times to join the Axe the Beer Tax - Save the Pub campaign, run by the British Beer and Pub Association and the Campaign for Real Ale, to highlighting the plight of the British pub and urging Government to take action to prevent pub closures.

You can show your support for the campaign by visiting www.axethebeertax.com. Join with us to lobby our local MP, Jonathan Djanogly, and show him the level of feeling about the future of our local pubs.