Halt new tax hikes on drink, Labour is told
PRESSURE was growing on the Chancellor last night to cancel planned tax hikes on alcohol after a survey showed most people regarded it as penalising sensible drinkers.
In his Budget in March, Alistair Darling put up the duty on beer by 4p a pint, slapped 14p on a bottle of wine and 55p on spirits – a 9.1 per cent increase.[>
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He also announced that he planned to raise alcohol duty by two per cent above inflation in each of the next four years, boosting Government coffers by more than £1.5billion over the next three years alone.[>
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But the policy was under fire last night after a poll showed more than eight out of 10 people said it was unfair on sensible drinkers.[>
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The same number thought higher taxes would not significantly reduce binge drinking, according to a survey for the British Beer and Pub Association.[>
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More than three quarters – 77 per cent – believed higher taxes would threaten many of Britain’s traditional pubs and over half said they would make them more inclined to vote for a party other than Labour.[>
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Dozens of pubs a month are closing around the country as they struggle with falling customers.[>
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Association chief executive Rob Hayward said: “This poll calls time on the Government’s stealth taxes on beer.[>
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“The public is deeply opposed to the Chancellor pushing up the price of a pint at a time when people’s main concern is rising prices across the board. By a large majority, the public is saying no.[>
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“People clearly think the taxman has had enough. This polling must make the Chancellor think again about further tax rises on beer. Higher taxes will not tackle the problems of binge drinking.’’[>
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A senior Labour MP yesterday added to the calls on Mr Darling for a rethink.[>
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Janet Dean, vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, which has been investigating pub closures, said she was concerned about plans for inflation-busting increases.[>
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She also predicted that the Government would be urged to help pubs by giving them rates or other relief for offering community services.[>
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She said: “The work that they do – including, for instance, possibly allowing the use of toilets as public toilets and community involvement with football teams and other aspects – could be recognised with rating relief in some form.[>
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“I hope the Government will consider that. You could call it a subsidy, but it would be a great help to pubs if their community value was recognised.”[>
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Daily Express columnist Antony Worrall Thompson, top chef and pub owner, said the smoking ban introduced last year had kept some customers away, “such as pensioners who used to go to the pub for a pint, a couple of cigarettes and a chat”.[>
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He added: “It is the heart, often, of a local community, with the post office and the local shop – which are also in trouble.”[>
