Many Sussex pubs have already been lost with Hastings alone seeing more than 40 pubs close in the past few decades.
CAMRA says the budget failed to address the pub industry’s concerns over VAT, energy bills or employer National Insurance contributions. the Chancellor announced that alcohol duty would rise in line with inflation, with the Treasury confirming that the duty would increase 3.66 per cent, in line with the Retail Price Inflation.
CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said: “This is a dark day for UK drinkers, pubs and breweries. Instead of offering a bold package to save and support the UK's pubs, the Chancellor has chosen not to help with VAT, energy bills or employer National Insurance contributions. Pubs and breweries can contribute to economic growth but only with proper support from the Government on sky-high costs which are making it impossible for many pubs to survive and thrive.”
“We are bitterly disappointed that alcohol duty has been hiked. Instead of delivering a substantial cut in tax breweries pay on their beer going to be sold in pubs, the Chancellor has made the damaging choice to hike alcohol duties, including on draught beer and cider. This extra hike in taxes on drinking in the pub can only risk more pubs and breweries being lost to the communities they serve.”
He did though welcome the decision to introduce permanently lower business rates for hospitality businesses in England from next May. commenting: “It is a positive step and is long overdue. The Treasury has stated that all retail, leisure and hospitality businesses will pay lower rates bills than they do at the moment, even with the 40 per cent discount on business rates bills ending next year. This is encouraging, but pubs will want to know just how much they will be paying to be able to plan and to know how much this decision will help them at a time when other costs continue to rise.”