The body representing pubs in Northern Ireland wants the Government to review a controversial law which automatically increases the tax on beer by between 5p and 10p every year.
Pubs of Ulster said the beer duty escalator threatens the industry and should be dropped following debate in the House of Commons over the issue.
“With the future of the industry in real danger, we hope that the calls coming from Westminster today don’t fall on deaf ears,” chief executive of the body Colin Neill said.
“We also hope that the Treasury Minister Sajid Javid stays true to his word and takes away all the concerns raised at the debate and makes sure the Government does more to help the industry.
The issue came up for debate in the House of Commons after over 100,000 people signed a petition asking the government to rescind the tax.
At present, duty on beer automatically increases by 2% more each year.
Sajid Javid said the escalator, which is due to last until 2015, would remain in place but that the Government would review it in the future.
He claimed £35 million in tax savings would need to be found elsewhere if it were scrapped.
Colin Neill said the industry wouldn’t give up the fight against the tax.
“Pubs of Ulster will continue to lobby on behalf of the local industry and we hope that a review of the beer duty escalator will be announced ahead of the next budget in 2013; the future of the industry depends on it.”
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