CAMRA comments on the Chancellor’s statement on the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan

Responding to the Chancellor’s statement, CAMRA Chief Executive Tom Stainer said:

“The UK’s pubs and breweries are facing crippling energy costs which are already forcing some businesses to shut up shop for the winter months to ride out unaffordable bills – or close down altogether.

“Pubs already under serious pressure now face further uncertainty about what support will be available with gas and electric bills beyond April next year. The Prime Minister had previously said that pubs would be one of the businesses that would get extra support beyond the six-month period. The Chancellor must urgently confirm whether or not this is still the case.

“Scrapping the planned freeze on alcohol duty is disappointing, although it is useful to have confirmation that plans to change the alcohol duty system next summer – including a lower rate of duty on draught beer and cider to support pubs and pubgoing – are still going ahead.

“CAMRA are calling on the Chancellor to use his next statement on 31st October to rethink the freeze on alcohol duty – as well as announcing desperately needed help in the form of cutting VAT for on-trade food and alcohol and assistance with the burden of business rates. Otherwise, we risk the nation’s locals being forced to close their doors for good.”