BBPA: High strength beer is taxed more
MPs calling for high strength lagers to be taxed more heavily have been told that they already are.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has written to 50 MPs who signed Labour MP Martin Linton's EDM - a petition for MPs - calling for the Government to tax super strength lagers (over 9% abv) at a higher rate.
The petition said that super strength lagers "encourage excess consumption since each 500ml can contains 4.5 units of alcohol which is more than the Government's recommended daily alcohol limit".
However, high strength beers are already taxed at a higher rate.
"As a consequence, while 31.1 pence in duty is payable on a pint of 4% beer, a pint of 9% beer pays 70.1 pence in duty - more than double the tax," said BBPA director of communications Mark Hastings.
"This is in contrast to the tax regime for both cider and wine, which is based on flat rates for broad bands of alcohol content."
Hastings hit out at the different way beer is treated to cider and believes the two should be brought in line.
"A can of 9% beer is not the only form of packaging to contain more than the daily unit guidelines.
"High strength ciders are sold in similar packaging and of course a bottle of wine will typically contain 9.75 units and a bottle of spirits 26.25 units.
"Whatever restrictions are placed on high strength beer, people will still be free to buy these other products and consume as much as they choose.
"In fact further restricting or constraining the availability of high strength beer increases the likelihood of consumption being diverted into the higher strength products."
