The pub is a vital hub for many local communities, places where people come together to socialise, raise money for charity or run sports clubs. Yet six are closing every day and a record 2,000 pubs have closed in the last year, resulting in 20,000 job lost.

The campaign has already gained considerable public support and is growing in momentum. More than 40,000 members of the public have signed up as supporters to the campaign and about 200 MPs have lent their support, including 59 Liberal Democrats.

The ‘Axe the Beer Tax – Save the Pub’ campaign was launched by the British Beer & Pub Association and CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) and has five key demands of Government:

1. Axe plans to increase beer tax by a third
2. Enforce existing laws, not create new ones, to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and premises
3. End the irresponsible promotion of alcohol in supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere
4. Trust responsible adults to make informed choices about what they drink, not to punish them for the actions of an irresponsible minority
5. Support the British pub as a vital part of social life in local communities

The immediate focus of the campaign is to persuade the chancellor to scrap plans to impose a 2% above inflation increase in beer tax – even though already tax amounts to 33% of the price of a pint.

You can help to make the Government think again by:

1. Signing up in support at www.axethebeertax.com/support-us.aspx and urging your colleagues and constituents to sign up too;
2. Link your blog or website to the Axe the Beer Tax website and embed the beer taxometer;
4. Use the materials on the Axe the Beer Tax website to highlight the campaign including using their logos, posters and beer mats etc;
5. Contacting your local pubs to help produce a petition to Save the British Pub.

If you need any further information, please do get in touch with the campaign by emailing info@axethebeertax.com.

Bath has lost a total of 9 pubs since 2005 (and this does not include the potential loss of our Englishcoombe Inn), and nationally a record 2,000 pubs have called time on their business since the 2008 budget announcement that beer duty would rise once more.

Bath MP Don Foster, also the Lib Dem spokesperson for Culture, Media & Sport, says that current government policy is seriously damaging the future for the local pub.

He said, “Understandably the government wants to take action to tackle binge drinking, but by raising beer duty they are hurting the local pub and the social drinker.

“The local pub is an important part of a local community and we are at risk of losing many more if the government continues in this manner. We are punishing responsible social drinkers, when we should be hitting those who binge drink.

Cheap supermarket deals are seeing many getting ‘tanked up’ before going out into town, but rises on beer duty do nothing to tackle this. Supermarkets continue to sell alcohol as a loss-leader, but it is the local pub suffering as a result as government action is hurting them.

Bath businesses are able to claim assistance in getting through the current economic downturn.

Businesses interested in registering for loans under the Working Capital Scheme should call the helpline on 0845 459 9780.

All businesses are entitled to a free review of their business with an advisor using the help of Business Link on 0845 600 9006 or via this website.

Bath MP Don Foster said,

I encourage all businesses in Bath to get in touch with Business Link and receive free advice on how to get through this difficult period. It is important we do what we can to assist local businesses survive the recession.