Price of beer could be slashed by 20p after Brexit, CAMRA boss claims
The Campaign for Real Ale wants to see duty on pints sold in pubsslashed and a lower price for weaker bevvies
BREXIT could see the price of beer drop by 20p if the UK ditches costly EU regulations on pubs, according to campaigners.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) wants to see the duty on pints sold in pubs to be slashed and a lower price for weaker brews.
Actions like this currently need to be approved by the European Commission which hasn't changed its directive on excise duty since 1992.
CAMRA's manifest also calls on MPs to cut vat on licensed premises and business rates, reports the .
The organisation says politicians should encourage people to drink in pubs rather than at home or on the streets after buying booze from supermarkets.
CAMRA chairman Colin Valentine said: "Pubs are a uniquely British institution that showcase our nation’s brewing tradition and provide an essential community facility for those that use them.
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"It is therefore crucial that beer drinkers and pub-goers are not left behind when it comes to negotiating Britain’s future over the coming years."
The EU Excise Duty Directive stops the government from giving pubs a better rate of beer duty compared to supermarkets.
Draught beers below 2.8% alcohol receive a 50% duty discount, but CAMRA wants this raised to 3.5% to take into account the strength of pints at an average pub.
This change would slash the price of a 3.5% pint by 19p.
CAMRA's proposed cuts to overall beer duty and VAT are not included in this calculation, so if these were included the saving could be even more.
VAT is currently 20% and is paid by pubs on sales at the till and EU directives mean member states are not allowed to drop their rates of VAT below 15%.
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