by Wine Business International
Britain’s brewers are calling on the government asking for urgent action to rescue the beer industry, by freezing beer duty. According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA)
brewers are suffering the biggest slump in beer sales since the Great Depression. The number of pints sold in British pubs was at its highest in 1979, but has since dropped by 22% or seven million pints, as drinkers in the UK increasingly turn to wine and spirits.
A statement issued by the BBPA says that from 1997 to 2006, beer duties grew by 27% against 16% for wine, 11% for cider and 3% for spirits, cutting brewers’ profits by 78% between 2004 and 2006. Adding to their woes are soaring prices for glass, barley, malt and aluminium.
"The time to support our national drink is long overdue,” said Rob Hayward, Chief Executive of the BBPA.
