Sir, While we welcome the decision in the Budget not to further increase duty, beer drinkers continue to live in the shadow of the beer duty escalator, by which the government has indicated it will raise duty at subsequent budgets by 2% above inflation until 2015, by which point beer duty will have risen by over 50% since 2008.
For now, this feels like a stay of execution, rather than a reprieve, for beer. Beer continues to be disadvantaged by an uneven duty playing field, and the reversal of the 2p per pint rise in cider duty without a corresponding reduction in beer duty makes the uphill struggle for beer more severe. Currently a pint of 4% lager pays twice the duty rate of a pint of cider of similar strength.
We have welcomed the government's announcement to review excise duty across drinks in the autumn, when we believe the same support afforded to local apple growers should be extended to barley farmers and brewers. We are working with our global colleagues and experts to help find the best possible policy solutions for the UK, including a fair and equal tax regime for British barley farmers and the classic British brewery.
We want to address the real issues around alcohol harm, without punishing the majority of people.
One of life's simple pleasures is sharing a beer responsibly and sociably with friends at home or in the local pub and, at Molson Coors (UK), we believe it is fundamental to maintain a healthy respect for alcohol.
Mark Hunter, CEO, Molson Coors (UK)
For now, this feels like a stay of execution, rather than a reprieve, for beer. Beer continues to be disadvantaged by an uneven duty playing field, and the reversal of the 2p per pint rise in cider duty without a corresponding reduction in beer duty makes the uphill struggle for beer more severe. Currently a pint of 4% lager pays twice the duty rate of a pint of cider of similar strength.
We have welcomed the government's announcement to review excise duty across drinks in the autumn, when we believe the same support afforded to local apple growers should be extended to barley farmers and brewers. We are working with our global colleagues and experts to help find the best possible policy solutions for the UK, including a fair and equal tax regime for British barley farmers and the classic British brewery.
We want to address the real issues around alcohol harm, without punishing the majority of people.
One of life's simple pleasures is sharing a beer responsibly and sociably with friends at home or in the local pub and, at Molson Coors (UK), we believe it is fundamental to maintain a healthy respect for alcohol.
Mark Hunter, CEO, Molson Coors (UK)
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