Beer sales anticipated to generate additional revenue during the lionesses' final event
The UK is currently experiencing a surge in the cost of a pint, with the average price now exceeding £5. This trend is set to continue this weekend as the Women's Euro final is expected to generate an additional 1 million pints of beer sales, bringing the total to 2.6 million extra pints for the tournament.
However, the high cost of beer in the UK is not just a matter of supply and demand. Emma McClarkin, the chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), has highlighted the issue of beer duty, calling for the Government to use the Budget to reduce it.
The UK's beer duty is nearly three times the European average, and the UK pays over ten times more in beer duty than Spain for similar pub sector sales. This is primarily due to the UK's significantly higher excise duty rates on beer, which have increased over recent years, while most European countries, including Spain, have kept beer duties frozen or increased them only marginally.
For instance, the UK charges around 61p per pint of lager in excise duties, nearly three times higher than countries like France, Italy, and Germany, and substantially more than Spain where duties are far lower. This disparity extends to other taxes as well, with the overall tax burden on beer in the UK’s pub sector being substantially higher than in Spain.
The heatwave and a packed live sports schedule, including Wimbledon finals, test cricket, and rugby internationals, have also contributed to an increase in beer sales in the UK this month. These increased sales are expected to drive sales across pubs, bars, and supermarkets, potentially bringing a £5 million boost to the UK economy.
Despite this windfall, the BBPA is concerned about the unfair situation of UK pub goers paying significantly more in beer duty than their Spanish counterparts. The organisation has expressed a need for the new Government to commit to cutting beer duty, reforming business rates, and easing post-Budget cost burdens that have impacted brewers and landlords.
The UK faces a slew of new business costs introduced in April, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging rules and increased employment costs. Reducing beer duty, according to McClarkin, would help drive more growth for the economy, boost jobs, and prevent UK communities from paying more than European neighbors.
[1] Source: British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA)
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- The increased beer sales during major sports events, such as the Women's Euro final and Wimbledon finals, could potentially bring a £5 million boost to the UK economy, according to the BBPA.
- However, during a period of rising beer prices in the UK, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has called for the government to reduce beer duty, arguing that the UK currently pays over ten times more in beer duty than Spain for similar pub sector sales.
- Citing the UK's significantly higher excise duty rates on beer compared to countries like France, Italy, and Germany, the BBPA has advocated for reforming business rates, easing post-Budget cost burdens, and cutting beer duty to drive more growth for the economy, boost jobs, and prevent UK communities from paying more than European neighbors.
