Now's your chance

We need your help, now! That's the message from disgruntled licensees to Alistair Darling.

Drinks trade groups have secured a meeting with the Chancellor ahead of the Budget on April 22 to discuss the impact swingeing duty increases on alcohol are having on the trade.

Last week the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) agreed to pass on letters and emails from Publican readers to the Chancellor and, as hoped, plenty of people have been forthcoming with their views.

Jamie Denman, owner of the Vale of the White Horse Inn in Minety, North Wiltshire, says he is concerned that the growing campaign to outlaw the beer tie is overshadowing more important issues.

His letter to the Chancellor states: "Independent operators like me are also suffering and many are clinging on by their fingernails.

"The government has been steadily heaping more and more regulation, compliance burdens and taxes on the industry to the point where it is now collapsing."

He goes on to suggest 10 ways the government could help pubs, including extending business rates relief to all country and community pubs, introducing a minimum price for alcohol, postponing the minimum wage increase, reversing the duty increases made in December 2008 and cancelling further increases.

Dennis Cook, licensee of music venue the Horns in Watford, said duty hikes were putting more strain on his business: "How can I be the 'happy host' when I'm losing money, and facing an uncertain future?... please give us a break - do not increase the excise duty."

And Paul Davies of the Cricketers Arms in Bedford explains what would happen to the community if his pub was to fail because of the increase in the tax burden.

"The Cricketers Arms currently employs nine part-time staff," he writes. "Of these nine, three are young married mothers who work to supplement their income, improving the quality of their family life. This job also gives them a social life out-side of home and work.

"The other employees are students who are working their way through university and this money helps them to afford books and other items necessary to complete their studies.

"All of these employees would be lucky to find part-time employment in another establishment, especially as the number of pubs is decreasing."

And Paul Scott, director of Great Yarmouth-based wholesaler VC Vintners, says: "I write with grave concern over the way the present government handles the affairs of small businesses and in particular the drinks industry.

"It seems that it is over-regulated and is taxed so much that you do not give people a chance to get on with what they enjoy and do best, that is run a business and invest so it gets better."

The BBPA will meet Darling and Treasury minister Angela Eagle before the Budget. The Wine & Spirit Trade Association, the Gin & Vodka Association, the National Association of Cider Makers and the Scotch Whisky Association will also attend.

Mark Hastings, director of communications at the BBPA, said: "It is vitally important that the voice of licensees is heard loud and clear by the Chancellor."