Growth in UK Beer Volumes as Positive Impact of Beer Duty Cut Continues
British beer sales have increased for two consecutive quarters – the first time in 10 years – according to the latest quarterly ‘Beer Barometer’ figures from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). The increase in sales follows the Chancellor’s cut in Beer Duty in last year’s Budget – and strengthens calls for a duty freeze in the March Budget, says the BBPA.
Overall beer sales rose by 0.8 per cent in the quarter, some 15.3 million extra pints on the same period in 2012. Beer sales in pubs declined at a lower rate, falling by 2.2 per cent. Sales in the off-trade continued to grow, with the final quarter increase of 3.9 per cent contributing to 2013 off-trade sales beating 2012 levels.
Brigid Simmonds OBE, chief executive of BBPA, comments: “These figures demonstrate that cutting beer duty helps increase beer sales, stimulates industry investment and saves jobs. We hope the Chancellor takes note and freezes beer duty in his next Budget to give a further boost to British beer and pubs.”
The British Beer & Pub Association is the UK’s leading organisation representing the brewing and pub sector. Its members account for 96 per cent of the beer brewed in the UK and around half of Britain’s 49,500 pubs.
