BEER SALES FALLING

Sales of beer in Britain’s pubs suffered a worrying 3.6% drop in the third quarter of 2017, the worst performance for five years.

The 3.6% drop in on-trade sales from July to September, represents an astonishing 35 million fewer pints sold in Britain’s pubs and bars when compared to the same period in 2016. Beer sales had been hit hard by a substantial 3.9% tax rise in the March budget, therefore the freeze on further increases in the November budget was warmly welcomed.

Coupled with pressure from sky-high business rates, the move would see many more pubs closing, said Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association.

“When the Government was cutting or freezing beer duty from 2013-15, the sales of British beer stabilised, after years of a steep decline.”

We need fair taxes for British beer, so that brewers and pub operators can invest in thriving pubs, and take advantage of new opportunities to export more beer around the world as we leave the EU.

Beer sales are already under pressure with worldwide drop in sales of 1.8% reported earlier last year, after peaking in 2013.

This is not just limited to beer, with the market for all alcoholic drinks reducing by 1.3% in 2016.

It is in no doubt that Pubs and social clubs which play a very important part in peoples social life and generating tax for the government are in need of a helping hand. whether this is in the form of business rates relief or lower beer tax, it is needed sooner or later. At Comrie we are still seeing pubs and clubs closing down and many struggling to keep there head above water. This has a knock on impact to many other business who also rely on pubs and clubs to get there living.