Pub beer sales plummet

Sales of beer at the UK’s pubs, bars and restaurants fell 10.6% in the second quarter of the year, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Between April and June, 144 million fewer pints were sold through the on-trade compared with the same three months of 2007.

This is equivalent to a drop of 1.6 million pints a day.

The BBPA estimates that the Treasury has collected £88m less in beer duty and VAT than in the same period last year.

BBPA chief executive Rob Hayward said that the increase in tax on beer introduced in the Budget had hit the UK’s pubs hard.

“It’s also creating a large hole in the chancellor’s pocket with the Treasury’s tax take also down. This must call into question the Government’s planned beer tax escalator. Where’s the logic in taxing more when you’re taking less?”

Overall sales of beer, including the off-trade, were down 4.5%, although supermarkets and off-licences saw a 3.8% climb in sales during the period.

See the BBPA’s UK Quarterly Beer Barometer in full here >>

Mitchells & Butlers sees food sales rise as beer volumes drop >>

Alcohol tax hike unfair and no deterrent to binge-drinking >>

Adnams warns trading conditions for UK pubs are deteriorating >>

Police chief attacks pub trade’s withdrawal of voluntary code of conduct for alcohol sales >>

By Christopher Walton

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