The celebrations to mark the move were held at Fuller’s Red Lion pub in Westminster, central London.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond announced the freeze in beer duty in the Autumn Budget last week (22 November).
He said that all alcohol duties – other than white ciders – would be frozen, rather than increasing by RPI as originally planned. A new duty band will be introduced in 2019 to target cheap white ciders ranging in strength from 6.7% to 7.5% ABV.
Duty freeze
Hammond said: “Excessive alcohol consumption by the most vulnerable people is all too often through high-strength, low-quality products, especially so-called white ciders.
“Following our recent consultation we will legislate to increase duty on these products from 2019, but recognising the pressure on household budgets and backing our great British pubs, duties on other ciders, wines, spirits and on beer will be frozen.
“This will mean a bottle of whisky will be £1.15 less than in 2018 than if we had continued with Labour’s plans, and a pint of beer 12p less.”
Meanwhile at the celebrations, exchequer secretary with responsibility for alcohol taxation Andrew Jones, pubs minister Jake Berry and local Government minister Marcus Jones were hosted by British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds and other industry campaigners.
Celebrations
Mike Wood MP, who led the backbench campaign as chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and former chairman Andrew Griffiths also joined the celebrations.
Simmonds said: “It was great to thank Government ministers for supporting our industry.
“The beer duty freeze will make a real difference, business rates help went much further than expected and it shows the Government understands the importance of brewing and pubs, both to their local communities and the wider economy.”
Talking about wine and spirit duty also being frozen in the Budget, Hammond said: “Recognising the pressure on household budgets and backing our great British pubs, duties on other ciders, wines, spirits and on beer will be frozen.”