CAMRA responds to Chancellor's decision not to cancel beer duty

In response to the Chancellor's decision not to cancel beer duty, CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said:

"CAMRA is disappointed to hear that the Chancellor has decided not to cancel beer duty in light of the current COVID situation.

"This could have meant the difference between many hundreds of independent breweries standing a chance of surviving this crisis, or closing their operations permanently and never reopening.

"Many brewers were already faced with the difficult challenge of trying to continue to run their businesses and retain staff, in order to allow customers across the country enjoy great beer - one of the small pleasures still available to people.

"The postponement or cancellation of beer duty could have helped keep some of these small independent businesses open and trading online, rather than see thousands of pounds sent to HMRC."