Theo Clarke has today welcomed the news that the Conservative Government is protecting the price of a pint by increasing the generosity of Draught Relief – meaning the alcohol duty paid for drinks on tap at the pub will be up to 11p less per pint than in a supermarket.
This will benefit the pubs across Stafford now and in the future, as the Conservative Government has given a Brexit Pubs Guarantee to maintain the difference, so the duty paid at the pub for drinks on tap will always be lower than in the supermarket.
This is just one part of the biggest shake up of alcohol taxation in over a century, with the system being simplified so all drinks will now be taxed according to strength. Drinks such as sparkling wines, ciders, draught fruit ciders, liqueurs and ready to drink spirits, like a pre-mixed gin and tonic, will see their duty cut. The Conservative Government is also backing Britain’s drinks industry, both with lower tax rates for lower alcohol products, and expanding tax reliefs for small producers so they have the freedom to grow and expand into new types of drink.
Increasing the generosity of Draught Relief will help our pubs in the face of rising prices, alongside the Conservative Government’s 5p fuel duty cut, decreases to National Insurance, support with energy bills, and cuts to business rates.
Keeping the duty paid on a pint and other drinks down – something only possible thanks to Brexit – is just one of the ways the Conservative Government is delivering on its promise to halve inflation, as well as its work to grow the economy and reduce debt.
Ms Clarke has said that “Stafford’s pubs are at the heart of our community. It is brilliant that the Conservative Government is increasing the generosity of Draught Relief meaning cheaper pints in Stafford's pubs".
