MP asks for beer duty to be cut to boost Sutherland pubs
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BEER taxation should be cut to help bolster the pub trade and the hundreds of jobs it supports in Sutherland and the far north Jamie Stone MP has argued.
The Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross member, made the call after lending his support to the Long Live the Local campaign.
Mr Stone is calling on the UK government to cut beer tax at the budget.
He claimed that British drinkers now pay 40 per cent of all beer tax across the EU, but drink only 12 per cent of the beer.
He added that seven in ten alcoholic drinks served in pubs are beer – underlining how directly a cut in beer duty will help pubs.
The comments came as a report released by the Office for National Statistics showed that the number of pubs and bars in the UK increased by 315 last year – the first time an increase has been seen in more than a decade.
In the Highland local authority area, there are now 25 more pubs than in 2001 and an 88 per cent increase in jobs in pubs and bars compared to 2001.
Mr Stone said: “The pubs in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross support 575 jobs and bring £12.7 million to the local economy.
“They are the heart of many communities and we must be encouraging measures to help keep them open.
“But to ensure continued growth in this industry the government should consider a cut to beer tax.
“I’m supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and calling on the chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s budget to support pubs in our local communities.”
