'Darling couldn't give a XXXX'

Chancellor Alistair Darling has been accused of "binge-taxing" by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) after ramping up tax on beer.

In reaction to today's Budget Nick Bish, chief executive of the organisation that represents more than 15,000 licensed premises, said: "The Budget proves that the Chancellor doesn't give a XXXX for Britain's local pubs.

"Britain's pubs needed a tonic from the Chancellor. But he's produced a toxic Budget for the industry instead."

The ALMR condemned the 4p a pint tax rise in today's Budget, which is coupled with annual increases of two per cent above inflation for the next four years

"Because of the government's budget deficit, the Chancellor has been binge-taxing instead," added Bish.

He also criticised Darling for not addressing the issue of below-cost selling by major supermarkets and warned more pub closures were likely to follow.

He said: "Closed pubs can't pay taxes. Only open pubs can. The government had already created a climate in which pub closures were running at record levels. 2008's Budget will make a bad problem much, much worse."

His view was echoed by Keith Bott, managing director of Titanic Brewery ad ex-chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).

He said: "To suggest that this rise will help fund spending for the Treasury is absolutely ludicrous. We have shown that the Treasury is receiving a smaller amount of revenue than it thinks it is. And this tax hike will do nothing to lessen that. It is a very short-sighted decision and one that is lacking in spine."