Moves not to increase beer prices in pubs welcomed

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his spring budget yesterday that although alcohol duty rates will rise in line with inflation, the duty on draught beer in UK pubs will freeze in a move to help struggling businesses.

Dubbed the new “Brexit pubs guarantee” by the Chancellor in his speech to the House of Commons, the freeze in duty will mean the duty on draught pints is 11p lower than in supermarkets.

The Chancellor said: “From August 1 the duty on draught products in pubs will be up to 11p lower than the duty in supermarkets, a differential we will maintain as part of a new Brexit pubs guarantee.

“British ale may be warm, but the duty on a pint is frozen.”

Joe Sewell, general manager at the Gloucester in Weymouth said: “It is good to finally see something in our favour.

“With bills going up and the cost of living crisis, it is good to finally have some positive news.

“After Covid, a lot of people now don’t come into the pubs and maybe drink at home, hopefully, it will bring people back to the pubs.”

Rich Gabe, press officer and social secretary for West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said: “The problem these days with pubs is that people have changed their habits and it’s been a slow process over the years that has been affecting consumer habits in pubs. It’s not a good time to be in the pub industry, really, because people’s disposable income is taking a hit and unfortunately something like going out is what people are cutting back on.

“(The freeze) is a start but (the Chancellor) could have extended it across drinks because basically, you’re now alienating a spirit drinker as opposed to an ale drinker.

“We forget how important pubs are to communities, especially in rural places, and sadly we tend to hear the negatives more than the positives. Things like the Dorchester Beer Festival, where 23,000 people attended, show the interest is still there and that really was a phenomenal success.”