Save the pub petition

A campaign against a proposed future duty rise on alcohol has been launched by the British Beer and Pub Association and is calling on people to petition their MPs against the rise.

Ricky Hatton says: “I'm delighted to be backing this campaign. Local pubs are the heart of communities like mine. They deserve our support.”

The ‘I’m Backing the Pub’ campaign follows hot on the heels of the ‘Axe the Beer Tax – Save the Pub’ campaign that was launched in November 2008. The previous campaign helped to win the backing of over 200 MPs to highlight the public’s concern over falling sales and pub closures.

This new campaign is aiming to bring together all the industries that rely on or are affected by what happens to pubs. They want to show politicians the scale of the contribution that pubs make to life within Britain whilst highlighting the potential negative effects that increased taxation and regulation can cause the industry.

Currently the campaign is urging people to email their MP and ask them to support a motion in Parliament which asks the Government to rethink the proposed increase in alcohol duty so soon after the increase in VAT.

‘I’m Backing the Pub’ claims this would add, on average, ten pence to the price of a pint on top of the six pence increase due to the VAT increase in January.

The hope is that a successful campaign will make the Government think again and alleviate the pressure on the smaller community pubs, helping to keep jobs secure at a time of high unemployment where opportunities are limited in small communities.

The ‘I’m Backing the Pub’ website has a handy tool to help petition your MP to support the motion against the proposed increase in alcohol duty, which is expected in the Budget later this month. All that it requires is a postcode to be entered and it will find your MP’s details; it then supplies you with a pre-composed letter ready to be emailed straight to them. Eighty MPs have shown their support for the motion so far.

The campaign is being lead by the British Beer and Pub Association whose members brew 98 percent of the UK’s beer and own over half of the 54,000 pubs within Britain. Several high profile organisations have also backed the campaign including; the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Society of Independent Brewers, Football Supporters Association and Visit Britain.

Several celebrities have lent their support, including: actors Kym Marsh and Neil Morrisey with boxing champion Ricky Hatton saying: “I'm delighted to be backing this campaign. Local pubs are the heart of communities like mine. They deserve our support.”

It is hoped that this grass roots approach will allow everyone who cares about their local pub to be heard and represented.

To bring the campaign to the MP’s attention visit www.backthepub.com