MPs in the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group have warned that Britain’s pubs are ‘overlooked and overburdened with tax’ as they called for action to ease pressure on the sector
MPs have warned that Britain’s pubs are “overlooked and overburdened with tax” as they called for bold action to ease pressure on the sector.
The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) said recent regulation is “choking” the potential of the UK’s pub and brewing sector.
It branded the industry a “major economic force”, supporting more than one million jobs and contributing £34.3billion in economic value, and said the sector “will be the key to high street regeneration, community cohesion and growth”.
The Mirror is campaigning to save Britain’s struggling pubs.
Setting out a series of demands, the group of MPs said the sector could grow by 6% a year with the right policies, creating half a million new jobs by 2030.
READ MORE: Pub opening hours to change with punters able to drink later in huge shake up
Among its recommendations, the APPBG called for the removal or reduction of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), including scrapping them for the first year of employing someone under 25.
MPs also demanded meaningful reform of Business Rates, a reduction in beer duty by a minimum of 5% and for the definition of alcohol free beers to be set at 0.5%, aligning with European norms.
The group also called for investment in employment and skills, including in brewing innovation, and reform of apprenticeships.
And they recommended extending capital allowances to include pub furniture and kitchen or cellar equipment, with double capital allowances for any project that supports Net Zero, such as solar panels.
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, APPBG’s chair, said: “What this report makes clear is that this critical sector has been overlooked and overburdened with tax, resulting in missed opportunities for growth and investment to the detriment of the whole UK economy.
“Our recommendations provide a platform for creating the right fiscal and regulatory environment to enable the brewing and pub sector to deliver economic growth very quickly, benefitting local communities, policy makers and Government.”
Earlier this month, Keir Starmer praised the Mirror for its campaign to save Britain’s struggling boozers as he set out plans for pubs to stay open longer.
The Prime Minister is promising to slash red tape holding pubs back, by ripping up strict rules that make it hard for locals to serve food outdoors, hold live music events, or even stay open due to noise complaints.
A four-week review will hear from communities, landlords, and punters on licensing rules after a task force recommended a shake-up of the rules.
The Mirror is campaigning to support the industry with its Your Pub Needs You crusade.
We are calling for a government fighting fund for pubs, recognition for bars going above and beyond for their community, and support for groups wanting to buy their local.
A Government spokesman said: “Thriving pubs are at the heart of our communities and have a key role supporting economic growth across the UK.
“That’s why we launched a Small Business Plan which is backing pub owners with tailored support alongside new plans to slash red tape, speed up licensing reforms and create a fairer business rates system through our Plan for Change.”
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