Forty leading bosses in the brewing and pub industry have called on the Government to recognise the key role played by pubs in their local communities by scrapping the punitive beer duty regime.

In a letter to The Times, published today before next week’s Budget, the heads of companies including Anheuser-Busch InBev UK, Heineken UK and Enterprise Inns claim that the industry’s ability to participate in the economic recovery is being jeopardised by “the blunt instrument of tax”. Publication of the letter comes on the same day that John Healey, the newly appointed Minister for Pubs, unveils a 12-point action plan to support community pubs. Backed by £4 million of funding, the initiative aims to stem the pub closure rate, currently running at 39 a week, amid fallout from the smoking ban and the recession.

To view the full article go to:  Timesonline