Save The Great British Pub
Please help us by signing the petition below:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to secure the future of our local pubs across the United Kingdom. The great British pub is part of our national heritage and way of life. But most importantly, they are the hub of local communities up and down the country. Local pubs are closing at an alarming rate of 36 per week across the country. We call on the Government to ease the burden of regulation and taxes on pubs in order for them to overcome current difficulties. We need to strike the right balance between ensuring consumers have a choice and also ensuring that pubs can survive. One way of redressing the balance a little would be to ensure that we have a freeze on beer duty for the time being.”
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With nearly 36 pubs closing every week, and local pubs under threat, we believe that the Government should be doing more to save the Great British pub.
33% of the price of every pint goes in Beer Tax to the Chancellor. Now the Government plans to increase beer tax further.
We are calling on the Government to help save our pubs and safeguard jobs by:
1. Cutting taxes on lower alcohol drinks such as low alcohol beers and raising taxes on problem drinks like high strength ciders and alcopops in order to use the tax system to target binge drinking whilst ensuring that responsible drinkers and the traditional British pub are not unfairly penalised
2. Enforcing existing laws to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers & premises
3. Trusting adults to make informed choices, not punish them for the actions of an irresponsible minority
4. Supporting the British pub as a vital part of local communities
Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Culture Secretary:
“We all have our favourite local pub but up and down the country people have been losing theirs. Not only are they a critical part of our heritage but they are often hubs for local communities helping social groups, sports clubs and often even the village shop.”
“For too long the Government has tried to tackle binge drinking by punishing responsible drinkers and landlords. With massive tax hikes and heavy-handed regulation, all Labour will succeed in doing is closing down more pubs. This has to stop. We should be proud of our brewers and proud of our pub industry and do what we can to support them – which is why we are launching this campaign.”
Mark Prisk, Shadow Business Minister:
“The future of British pubs are under threat and we must do all we can to save these great British institutions. Pubs are often small, family-run businesses – not only are they the social heart of their communities, they also provide jobs, and support the British brewing industry. Now, in the face of great adversity, we must do all we can to save our local pub.”
Prospective Hazel Grove MP, Annesley Abercorn said:
“The Government’s changes to the licensing laws have made it even easier for supermarkets to sell alcohol for even longer. These changes, along with rising energy costs, taxes and even more regulation mean that the pub trade is facing real difficulties. In actual fact there are now 14 million less pints per day sold in pubs than at the peak of sales in 1979. The problems have been made worse by supermarkets who sell beer as a loss leader, often at a price even cheaper than bottled water. We must encourage supermarkets to be more socially responsible and to understand the impact their practices could be having on pubs. We need to strike the right balance between ensuring consumers have a choice and also ensuring that pubs can survive. One way of redressing the balance a little would be to ensure that we have a freeze on beer duty for the time being. My own personal opinion is that the full smoking ban in public places has contributed to falling pub custom and I would have liked to see pubs have separate smoking rooms for those who like a cigarette with a drink”
Look out for the SOP sign in your local pub. Sign the petition at the bar or log onto www.actionabercorn.co.uk
