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.