British Beer & Pub Association Calls for Beer Tax Freeze After New Figures Show Drop in Alcohol Consumption

Mar 12 2012 --- New figures for UK alcohol consumption in 2011 show that the amount Britons drink has fallen yet again – for the fifth year out of the past seven. A report published in yesterday’s Sunday Times showed that consumption per head is now 13 per cent lower than it was in 2004 when the current trend began, says the British Beer & Pub Association, which has compiled the new data based on HMRC alcohol tax return.

 

The figures confirm trends unveiled yesterday by the Office of National Statistics, which also show that binge drinking is falling across all categories of drinkers, by sex and age. Drinking above weekly guidelines among young men, for example, is down from 32 per cent to 21 per cent compared with five years ago.

 

With the Government poised to launch its new alcohol strategy, the BBPA is urging all policy-makers to ensure that new initiatives to tackle alcohol misuse are targeted and based on the facts. With beer sales down 3.4 per cent in 2011, it is no time for another sharp rise in the tax on beer, says the BBPA – as the Government intends in the Budget. And alongside a duty freeze, with beer’s share of alcohol sales falling in favour of stronger drinks, it is time to review the way alcohol is taxed.

 

Brigid Simmonds, BBPA Chief Executive, comments: “Total alcohol consumption is now 13 per cent lower per head than in 2004, when this trend began. The Government’s own surveys show the same trends, with good progress in reducing drinking above recommended guidelines.

 

“The drinks’ industry is working hard with Government and investing in initiatives to tackle alcohol misuse, so as well as the launch new initiatives, we need to acknowledge the progress already made. Over 90 per cent of beer containers have unit labelling, and under the Alcohol Responsibility Deal the BBPA has developed a Customer Unit Awareness Campaign for the on-trade.

 

“We need to draw back from the huge tax rises planned by the Government. These would damage British brewing and pubs, on which almost one million UK jobs depend. Freezing Beer Tax in the Budget would also send a signal that the Government wants to encourage lower strength drinks - as it did last year, with its new lower tax on 2.8 per cent abv beers.”