Tax increases on beer 'unnecessary'
Commercial insurance
19th March 2009
Proposals to increase punitive taxes on alcohol should be reconsidered, it has been claimed.
According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the amount of alcohol drunk in the UK fell by 3.2 per cent last year, while consumption has fallen 4.6 per cent since the introduction of the Licensing Act in 2005.
The organisation said that the drop has resulted in a saving of more than £800 million in treating alcohol harm for the UK economy.
Mark Hastings, director of communications for the BBPA, said the government should base its policy on facts, instead of myths.
He added: "The industry's investment in and promotion of responsible drinking messages to consumers and initiatives like Drinkaware is helping people make more informed and better choices about their drinking patterns."
The BBPA's membership accounts for 98 per cent of beer production in the UK and half of the country's 58,000 pubs.
For more information on how Giles can help you with your business insurance, Click here.
