Small brewers reaching new heights says CAMRA

25-Apr-2006 - Last updated on 26-Aug-2011 at 23:39 GMT

CAMRA says Small Breweries Tax Relief has helped the sector grow to unprecedented heights - and is calling for it to be extended. The campaign group...

CAMRA says Small Breweries Tax Relief has helped the sector grow to unprecedented heights - and is calling for it to be extended.

The campaign group revealed that there are now 570 small and regional brewers in the UK compared to only 440 in 2002 when Small Breweries' Relief was introduced.

More than at any time since CAMRA was founded in 1971.

Small Breweries' Relief means small brewers pay reduced tax on the beer that they produce.

Under the current system all brewers producing less than 60,000 hectolitres a year benefit.

Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland has tabled a parliamentary motion backing Small Breweries' Relief, and is calling for the threshold to be extended up to 200,000 hectolitres so that even more brewers can benefit.

CAMRA Chief Executive Mike Benner said: "Small Breweries' Relief has helped create renewed interest in real ale, and this can only be good news for all those who care about real ale. Over 130 more small real ale brewers is fantastic news to our 80,000 members and all fans of real ale."

"It is a sad fact that over 80% of the beer drunk in the UK is produced by four global brewers. Small Breweries' Relief is crucial in helping Britain's small and regional brewers compete against the huge economic muscle of the global brewers. Small Breweries' Relief should be extended to the 200,000 hectoliters to help support more of Britain's independent brewers."

"Thirteen EU countries provide tax relief for small breweries producing up to 200,000 hectolitres annually and CAMRA is urging Britain to follow the lead of other beer loving nations such as Germany."

So far 37 MP's from all parties have so far signed Early Day Motion 1955 calling for Small Breweries' Relief to be extended.

Greg Mulholland MP said: "The relief for small breweries is of course welcome. It has helped micro-breweries produce many excellent brews including some local to me.

"However there are small independent breweries that do not currently quality for such relief. It is time they were given the same support levels to allow all small breweries to flourish.

"There is currently a perverse disincentive to be successful. We should not be holding these independent brewers back in this way."