Mark Jenkinson MP has today pledged his support for the ‘Long Live the Local’ campaign to help pubs in Workington keep their doors open.
Mark joins over 370 Workington constituents who have already signed the petition, which has attracted 24,000 signatures nationally. The petition calls on the Government to cut beer tax in the Budget on 11th March 2020.
With £1 in every £3 pounds spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers now pay 40% of all beer tax across the EU, but drink only 12% of the beer. Seven in ten alcoholic drinks served in pubs are beer, underlining how a cut in beer duty will directly help pubs.
Mark said: “Pubs are at the heart of towns and communities across Workington. I’m supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and calling on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s Budget to support pubs by helping them keep their doors open, especially in our more rural communities.”
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "Beer duty has increased by 60% over the last 17 years and now the UK has one of the highest rates of tax in Europe. When over two thirds of all alcoholic drinks purchased in the pub are beers, a cut in beer tax would go a long way to protecting pubs across Workington.
We are very grateful to Mark Jenkinson MP for their support for the Long Live the Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to MPs across Parliament and the thousands of people across the country who are calling for a cut in beer tax to protect our pubs.”
