West Dorset MP Chris Loder has hailed the announcement on Wednesday 15th March that pubs across the UK will be given a much welcome boost under Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s new budget announcements as alcohol duty for draught beer in pubs is frozen. This, coupled by increased alcohol duty in supermarkets will mean a pint of beer will be on average 11p less in a pub than in a supermarket. Mr Loder said;
“I met with the Chancellor two weeks before the budget and made clear that our hospitality sector especially here in West Dorset needs a fair crack of the whip when it comes to taxation. I want it to be easier for people to support their local pub rather than buying alcohol in supermarkets and these changes will finally afford our pubs the level playing field they need”
Jeremy Hunt announced the move, saying: “Today, I will do something that was not possible when we were in the EU and significantly increase the generosity of Draught Relief, so that from 1 August 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.”
Mr Loder continued; “pubs are the heart and soul of communities, employing hundreds of local people in West Dorset and the first rung on the career ladder for many hundreds more young people in West Dorset alone. I fully welcome this move to further boost our hospitality sector”
