As Ed Milliband has stated, this is a millionaire’s budget on top of axing the 50p tax rate and other measures which ensure this country remains a tax-haven for the most corrupt.  Here is a press statement about the Government’s increase in Beer Duty from CAMRA.  Beer being the ‘working-classes’ preferred beverage for socialising with.  Unlike Spirits and Champagne which Gordon Brown did not increase duty on.  And it is spirits, most of which is imported, is the cause in the increase in young people being admitted to A&E and increasing health problems.

CAMRA- ‘Beer drinkers rocked by tax man swallowing a third of every pint’

– Consumers fight back as CAMRA urges its members to back e-petition to scrap beer tax escalator
– Sign e-petition today at www.camra.org.uk/saveyourpint 

New increases to push up price of a pub pint by 5-10p

Issued: Wednesday March 21^st 2012
The Campaign for Real Ale, has today lambasted the Government for its careless approach to one of Britain’s most valued institutions, the pub, as a further inflation plus 2% increase on beer will bring about yet more price rises at the bar, and further job losses in the sector.

With around £1 on every pint going to the Treasury in beer duty and VAT, CAMRA has reacted to today’s news by urging its 136,000 members and all pub goers to sign an industry backed e-petition to remove the beer duty escalator- www.camra.org.uk/saveyourpint. The e-petition has today been backed by CAMRA, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).

With the beer and pub industry supporting almost 1 million jobs and contributing £21 billion to UK GDP, CAMRA has condemned the Government for imposing punitive successive tax increases, which will impact both breweries at production level, and drinkers at the bar.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:

‘The fact Britons are forced to pay over 40% of the EU beer tax bill, but consume only 13% of the beer sold in Europe, is remarkable. British beer in a pub is so heavily hit with duty and VAT, the tax man’s whirlwind hikes translate to him guzzling a third of every pint served, a shadow cast over the beer drinker depriving people of an affordable night down their local.

‘Such high taxes on beer are totally unsustainable, and therefore CAMRA is launching a consumer fight back in a bid to make the Government see sense. We today urge all beer drinkers to visit www.camra.org.uk/saveyourpint to get behind this new industry-backed e-petition to help safeguard the future of the beer and pub industry.’