Tory plans 'naïve', says Camra
The Campaign for Real Ale has attacked Tory plans to increase tax on alcohol as 'naïve'.
Mike Benner, Camra chief executive said any beer tax would only send people away from pubs to supermarkets where drink is cheaper.
He said: "The proposals made by the Social Policy Justice Group are as flawed as they are naive. Iain Duncan Smith MP has said that an extra £400 million would be generated by these proposals, and yet he claims the aim is to persuade people to drink less.
This proposal simply punishes the responsible majority who like to relax with a drink or two in their local pub. Mike Benner, Camra chief executive.
"Surely if the Tories believe that a price hike would stop the British people from drinking then there would be less revenue for them to wring their hands over.
"A beer tax increase of 10% will lead to people buying their alcohol at supermarkets where beer is irresponsibly used as a loss leader. The drop in trade will force pubs to close and communities that use those pubs will lose yet another valuable amenity. In addition there will be an increase in cheap alcohol being smuggled in from lower tax countries further eroding the Treasury's cut and promoting uncontrolled and underage drinking.
"Britain's pubs focus on providing value for money through a quality offering and are simply not in the business of flogging low-price booze. Binge drinking and alcohol misuse should be tackled through targeted education and support for the small minority who abuse alcohol. This proposal simply punishes the responsible majority who like to relax with a drink or two in their local pub."
