Local pubs are under threat from rising energy bills and the impact the cost of living crisis has had on customers, independent brewers warn the Chancellor.
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have jointly signed a letter to the Chancellor highlighting the challenges which are putting the future of the UK beer industry at risk.
In the letter, the organisations highlighted the impact of increasing energy bills, frequent ingredient shortages and price hikes on pubs. They also said that consumers could no longer afford to support their locals.
They urged the Chancellor to provide small businesses with more support, including a cap on energy prices as well as greater support to go green and reduce their energy needs through grants for renewable technology.
There are also concerns that reforms to alcohol duty will be delayed from next year including to the Draught Duty Rate which gives a 5% reduction in duty for beer sold in pubs. The organisations have asked the Government to prioritise these changes.
Roy Allkin, chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) said: ‘With energy bills soaring we are calling on Government to back British beer and help independent brewers with an energy price cap for small businesses, and to offer grants and incentives for the many businesses looking to brew with more green energy.
‘It is also vital that the Government’s plan to tempt people back to the pub with a new discounted draught duty rate is extended to the smaller twenty and thirty litre containers used by small brewers, or risk Global lager brands being the only ones who benefit.’
Nik Antona, chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said: ‘Pubs goers and beer drinkers want to see urgent action from government to make sure that the UK’s best beers, brands and breweries can survive these unprecedented times of rocketing energy and ingredient costs and a dip in consumer confidence.
‘With businesses having pulled out all the stops to make it through the pandemic, it would be a travesty if more of our local, small and independent breweries were forced to close for good now due to the crisis with the cost of energy, goods, and doing business.’
