SIBA Response to Chancellor’s October Budget 2018
Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) reacts to the Chancellor’s Budget
Commenting on the Chancellor’s October Budget, Mike Benner, Chief Executive of SIBA which represents the UK’s independent craft brewers said;
On beer duty
“A freeze in beer duty is good news for UK brewers, publicans and beer drinkers. A planned rise in line with inflation would have meant a £100m hit to Britain’s brewers. We will be toasting the Chancellor this week with a pint of British independently brewed beer.”
On business rates
“There is also good news in this Budget via the £1.5bn ‘high street rescue plan’, cutting business rates for most English pubs, craft beer bars and taprooms by a third. As the policy only applies in England; brewers, publicans and responsible drinkers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will want their devolved administrations to back this proposal, too.”
On small breweries relief (SBR)
“The Government has announced a review of Small Breweries’ Relief. SIBA, as the voice of British Independent brewing will be front and centre in working with Treasury to usher in the next chapter of SBR. We will ensure the smallest breweries are protected, growth is incentivised and the sustainability of UK brewing is the centrepiece of reform.”
Digital economy
“We’re delighted the Chancellor has listened to calls from industry by announcing plans for a new digital services tax which will help to rebalance taxation between community bricks and mortar and the global tech giants. We’d like to see the Chancellor go further and ringfence a share of the revenue generated from this new tax to permanently lessen the burden on community pubs and the breweries that supply them. When some small pubs owned by brewers pay more in business rates than Amazon and Ebay do in corporation tax, we have to find a more permanent solution”
On skills and training
“Small brewers looking to take on an apprentice will welcome the employer contribution being halved from 10% to 5%. We need more skilled people to keep the beer flowing and this proposal will help to train the next generation of brewers and brewsters.”
