Beer Festival sells "Tax Free Pints"

A Camra Beer Festival in Leeds sold "Tax-Free" pints over the weekend, as a way of explaining why beer costs so much in pubs. Some beers sold were discounted by the amount of tax that you would normally pay to the chancellor.

The Chancellor currently takes around 33% of the cost of a pint in tax, but this is due to rise to about 40%with the Budget in April. Last year the Chancellor announced a Alcohol duty escalator which wil increase the duty on Beer by 2% above inflation each year.

Speaking at the festival Carl Lockwood of the Leeds Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale said: "With the current economic climate and the continuing increase in pub closures, this year we wanted to promote pubs as the place to drink and as a way of explaining why beer costs so much in pubs. Therefore, some beers will be discounted at the festival by the amount of tax that you would normally pay to the chancellor."

Figures from the BBPA show that over 2000 pubs have closed in the last year, resulting in around 20,000 jobs lost. Recent figures also show that the rate of pubs closures are on the increase, with a record 39 closing every week, nearly 6 a day.

Carl added: "We in the Leeds Branch of The Campaign for Real Ale believe that beer festivals are a great way to introduce people to Real Ale, Cider and Perry as well as global beers.  In addition to highlight the level of tax on Beer, we are also doing our bit to promote sensible drinking. We have introduced third of a pint measures for the first time last year to allow people to taste more whilst not drinking too much and these are in use again this year.

Full details of the festival can be found at: www.leedsbeerfestival.co.uk