The Campaigns and Communications team returns with its regular series bringing the latest campaigning updates across Westminster, devolved parliaments and local government.
Westminster
Alcohol duty
In 2023, the government made changes to the alcohol duty system while setting objectives, which CAMRA campaigned for.
HMRC has now launched an evaluation, by calling for evidence and data, to make sure these objectives have been met.
The objectives are:
– greater consumer choice, particularly of low-strength products
– reduced alcohol-related harm
– support for on-trade business via draught relief, which was designed to reduce the tax burden on draught alcoholic products under 8.5 per cent ABV sold in on-trade venues, such as pubs
– support for small producers via Small Producer Relief, which extended the duty relief previously only available to small brewers to all small producers of alcoholic products under 8.5 per cent and addressed barriers to growth by smoothing the withdrawal of relief as production increases
– reduced administrative burden and a simplified process for users.
CAMRA will be making a submission to the call for evidence and will continue to engage with the Treasury ahead of the Autumn Budget 2026, when announcements relating to the alcohol duty system are made.
Cask beer and Fresh Ale
The team worked with Baggy Shanker MP to secure a parliamentary debate on “Protecting consumers and promoting cask ale by recognising its production and serving as Intangible Cultural Heritage”.
A date for the debate is still to be set.
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act was published in April and is now law.
This means groups which want to purchase a community asset, like pubs, will have a legal right to buy if they can get the funding needed within 12 months, building on the existing right to bid entitlement.
The team is keeping in touch with officials at the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government as the new law is carried out, and continue to campaign for dedicated money, after the government closed the Community Ownership Fund last year, so communities can save their locals.
Planning (England)
The government is proposing changes to its National Planning Policy Framework which means only the last pub in an area in England will be protected for conversion or demolition, instead of all pubs, which are legally protected right now.
Planning minister Matthew Pennycook MP is reviewing the consultation responses before a final decision is made.
CAMRA is continuing its e-lobby so members can write to their MP asking them to convince the government to rethink.
Email your MP here.
Scottish government and parliament
Scottish Pubs Code
A new guest beer right was added to the Scottish Pubs Code last year, meaning Scottish tied tenants can serve a guest beer of their own choosing.
The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) reported that some of these tenants are being discouraged by their pub owning companies to carry out this new right.
CAMRA has written to the Scottish Pubs Code adjudicator asking her to investigate SIBA’s reports.
Scottish parliament elections
The Scottish parliament election took place on 7 May.
Prior to the vote CAMRA published a roundup of political party manifestos and relevant commitments to beer and pubs on What’s Brewing.
Read it here.
The team is working with SIBA and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group to re-establish the Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs.
Welsh parliament and Senedd Cymru
Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament elections
The Senedd Cymru Welsh Parliament election also took place on 7 May.
The team published a roundup of political party manifestos and relevant commitments to beer and pubs on What’s Brewing.
Read it here.
CAMRA is working with SIBA and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group to re-establish the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs.
Northern Ireland assembly and executive
Northern Ireland licensing review
Earlier this year, the NI Communities minister rejected most of the University of Stirling’s recommendations in its independent review of NI’s alcohol licensing laws, including the outdated surrender principle.
Now the Department for Communities has launched a consultation to expand the number of venues that can apply for an alcohol license to include cultural venues.
CAMRA also anticipates the launch of a similar consultation on how limited brewery taproom licenses are operating.
While both are improvements, they fall short of requirements needed to properly modernise and reform the alcohol licensing system.
The team will be working with CAMRA NI director Ruth Sloan on consultation responses and setting up discussions with other organisations interested in campaigning for fundamental changes to NI’s alcohol licensing laws.
