Anne Main MP has continued her support for the Long Live the Local Campaign to help pubs in St Albans keep their doors open. Anne Main joins the more than 150,000 people who have signed the petition so far, including 223 in St Albans.

Anne Main MP is calling on the Government to cut beer tax at the Budget. With £1 in every £3 pounds spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers now pay 40% of all beer tax across the EU, but drink only 12% of the beer. Brewing and pubs in St Albans supports 1605 jobs and contributes 40.7 to the local economy.

In 2018 there were 59 pubs in St Albans, but this is two fewer than 2017 and will continue to fall if we don’t protect pubs. In fact, the UK is set to lose 10% of its pubs in the next five years.

Commenting on the campaign, Anne Main MP said:

“Pubs are at the heart of communities across St Albans, but with three British pubs closing their doors for good every day the Government should consider a cut to beer tax. I’m delighted to continue to support the Long Live the Local campaign and  I am calling on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s Budget to support pubs.

“Pubs are vital to our local community in St Albans and I will continue to champion them in Parliament. The government must do more to help businesses like our pubs who are unfairly impacted by the tax system.”

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:

“Beer duty has increased by 60% 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 St Albans. We are very grateful to Anne Main for their 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.”

www.longlivethelocal.pub