Henry Smith MP has pledged his support for the Long Live the Local campaign to help pubs in Crawley survive, joining over 500,000 people who have signed the petition so far, including 767 in Crawley alone.

The Crawley MP is calling on the Government to cut beer tax at the Budget. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on brewers and pubs throughout the UK. In 2020 beer sales in pubs fell by 56 per cent, which amounts to £7.8 billion in lost sales. The sector needs an immediate boost and the fact that seven in ten alcoholic drinks served in pubs are beer underlines how directly a cut in beer duty can help pubs.

Henry said;

“Pubs are at the heart of communities across Crawley, but with pubs bearing a disproportionate burden as a result of the pandemic the Government should consider a cut to beer tax.

“I’m supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and call on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s Budget to support pubs in our local communities.”

Brewing and pubs in Crawley support 1,424 jobs and contribute £34.4 million to the local economy. With £1 in every £3 spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers pay more in beer duty each year than those in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland combined.

David Cunningham, Programme Director at Long Live the Local, commented;

“Beer duty has increased by 60 per cent 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 Crawley that have suffered so much in the last year.

“We are very grateful to Henry Smith MP for his 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.”