Penny off a pint will make NO difference to struggling pubs, Rachel Reeves warned

A “PENNY off a pint” will make no difference to struggling pubs, Rachel Reeves was warned today.

New polling by Survation found that 88 per cent of landlords think the Chancellor’s 1p budget tax cut for draught beers will have no impact on sales.

Before the announcement last week, the pub sector feared 9,000 beloved boozers would shut within the year.

But now 82 per cent of publicans worry they will be worse off.

Bar and pub owners have also blasted a 3.65 per cent hike in taxes on spirits and wines, with 77 per saying it will exacerbate their plight.

The survey for the UK Spirits Alliance (UKSA) was damming for Labour with less than 9 per cent of publicans asked saying the party supported them.

The Conservative Party are seen as doing enough either, with only 31 per cent those asked saying the Tories are behind them.

Megha Khanna, UKSA spokesperson and landlord of the Gladstone Arms in South London, said: “The hike in spirits duty is going to impact the huge number of customers who come to a pub for a G&T or a cocktail.

“Pubs are more than pints and this is going to hammer our trade.”

Neema Rai, Founder of Westminster Thamesis Dock pub said: “We waited patiently for the new government to come up with the support they had hinted at for so long but now we can see the reality is just a gimmick on draught drinks and a massive increase on spirits.

“It’s a blow to publicans and British distillers and will hit the pockets of working people hard.”