Farron backs calls to end Beer Duty Escalator to help local pubs

In light of this afternoon's debate in the House of Commons, South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on the Government to help local community pubs to survive in this difficult economic climate by end the unfair beer duty escalator.

The beer duty escalator is an increase in tax on beer by 2% above the rate of inflation introduced in 2008 and in place until 2014/15. As a result, tax on beer has gone up by over 40% since 2008.

The beer duty escalator has proven damaging to brewers across the country and led to increases in beer prices. These price increases are absorbed by the supermarkets, however, pubs are simply unable to do this which can further increase the difference between a can in the supermarket and a pint in the pub and figures clearly show that people are now being put off by the price of beer in some pubs.

Tim has been a member of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group since becoming an MP in 2005 as well as a member of the Westmorland CAMRA group.

Commenting, Tim said: "The beer duty escalator massively favours big supermarkets over smaller local pubs and breweries. Pubs provide an essential hub for rural communities across the South Lakes and yet the threat posed by the beer duty escalator could see many of them unnecessarily closed down, without raising the funds predicted for the Government.

"It is important that we work hard to save our local pubs and with just a few simple steps, like scrapping the beer duty escalator, we can really help to make them successful community assets. I've also been campaigning locally with Westmorland CAMRA and local brewers to encourage the County Council to support our brewers and give small grants to pubs to house community facilities."