E-Malt.com News article: UK: British Beer and Pub Association has accused the Government of punishing all beer drinkers rather than tackling the minority of drunken hooligans.

The British Beer and Pub Association has accused the Government of punishing all beer drinkers rather than tackling the minority of drunken hooligans, ICWales reported March 19.

Chief executive Rob Hayward said: “Every single day, the Treasury is losing over £1m in beer taxes and four pubs are closing.

“People are now drinking one million fewer pints a day compared with last year - and that trend will continue,” he said.

Mr Hayward believes the higher prices announced last week will spell doom for British pubs, saying: “It is a decision doomed to failure.”

In a statement, the Campaign for Real Ale said: “This budget will do nothing to stop binge drinking.

“But it will lead to pub closures on a huge scale, widen the gap between supermarket and pub prices and encourage smuggling and cross-border shopping.”


19 March, 2008