Nick Griffin MEP is urging his website visitors to sign a petition to abolish the beer duty escalator, the alcohol tax that industry chiefs claim is responsible for hundreds of pub closures every year.

_{by Adam Walker}

The tax was introduced by Labour in 2008 and continued by the ConDems in this year’s budget. It means that beer duty is automatically increased by 2 percent above inflation every single year.

As a result, tax on beer has gone up by over 40 percent since 2008, and now a third of the cost of a pint goes on tax.

Writing on Twitter today, Nick asked his followers to sign the petition, pointing out that 12 pubs close every week due to taxes and smoking bans that rip the heart out of communities.

The Save Your Pint petition, which currently has over 50,000 signatures, was registered by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). They state that any further increases in beer duty will ramp up the pressure on pubs already struggling to survive and damage the long-term ability of the beer and pub sector to continue contributing over £6 billion a year in duty and VAT, and over £21 billion to the UK’s GDP.

Britons already pay the second-highest rate of beer tax in the EU. Over 4,500 UK pubs have closed their doors in since 2008, and thousands more jobs are set to go this year too.

Once the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be eligible for debate in the House of Commons.

You can sign the petition here:

The petition’s preamble reads:

Stop the beer duty escalator
Responsible department: Her Majesty's Treasury

Every year, the beer tax escalator increases the tax on beer by 2% above the rate of inflation, thus adding considerably more pressure on the British pub, the cornerstone of many of our communities. Removing the beer duty escalator at the next budget will help keep beer more affordable and go a long way to supporting the institution that is – the great British pub.

Going to the pub is a core British tradition and so is enjoying great beer. If you want to continue enjoying your fresh pint in your local pub then it’s crucial that you support our campaign to grind the beer duty tax escalator to a halt.

If we don’t show our support for the great British pub, we risk losing more pubs and more jobs within our local communities.
Support great beer in the great British pub and sign our e-petition now..... British Pubs Need You.