Brewing and pubs need to be firmly on the Government agenda

09-Jul-2014 - Last updated on 10-Jul-2014 at 10:28 GMT

Brigid Simmonds: 'There are three priority areas: reducing the tax burden, tackling the regulatory burden, and working in partnership, through self-regulation'

In just ten months time, the British public will have spoken. The votes will have been counted and (barring a lengthy series of negotiations in another hung Parliament) a Government will have been chosen.

For all the parties, whether it’s win, lose or draw next June, our industry needs brewing and pubs to be firmly on the agenda, and right the heart of their policy-making process, as they come to decide what is in their election manifestos.

This is why the BBPA has published our own manifesto, setting out our priorities, and how a future Government can work to deliver them. The Government has an impact on our sector in ways that are too many to mention, but when it comes down to it, there are three priority areas: reducing the tax burden, tackling the regulatory burden, and working in partnership, through self-regulation, to achieve the best results.

Beer duty

We have achieved great success in persuading the Government to cut beer duty in two successive Budgets. But our tax burden remains disproportionately high, compared with most of our European neighbours. For every £3 spent in pubs, £1 can be accounted for in taxes and other regulatory costs. For brewers, half of their turnover goes on beer duty alone.

This is why we will be pushing for further duty reductions for beer. This helps pubs, brewers, exports, and jobs. I also want to see a real conversation about how we can ease the burden of business rates for pubs, and also the case for lower VAT on pub and restaurant meals.

Regulation

Our sector is weighed down by unnecessary regulation; another set of burdens that hampers our ability to create growth and jobs. This is why our proposals include a moratorium on new licensing regulation.

Hand-in-hand with reduced regulation, we would like to see more innovative policies that help the sector, such as using pubs as central Wi-Fi hubs, and more support for British beer exports.

The industry recognises the importance of reducing alcohol harm, and brewers and pubs have an important role to play in ensuing responsible alcohol consumption. Brewers are achieving success through voluntary measures, such as the billion unit reduction pledge, and through more health information on labels. Likewise, the BBPA’s pub company members are committed to offering a greater choice of non- and lower-alcohol drinks.

Partnership

It is a partnership approach, with Government and others, than is delivering these results. This is why we are asking the parties to make self-regulation the default position for tackling these issues, rather than legislation. This means commitment to working with us, and supporting the huge range of voluntary initiatives and partnerships that are in place, such as Pubwatch, Best Bar None, business improvement districts and community alcohol partnerships.

While the BBPA works all year round to promote our policies and ideas, our manifesto will help to foster a debate with politicians and parties our about how they can help our sector in the new Parliament, for the full five years to 2020.

A future Government of whatever colour, can really build on the success of the two duty cuts, with a range of polices that promote growth, thriving pubs, and increased employment and investment in our sector.

Brigid Simmonds is chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association