Ahead of the General Election, the British Beer and Pub Association urges all political parties to support their local  

As the General Election approaches, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is calling on all political parties to implement policies not just to support the nation's pubs, but to unlock their economic and social value.  

We are calling for a meaningful reform in the unfair business rates calculations which see pubs burdened with disproportionate rates, squeezing margins further. Comprehensive reform is essential to create an equitable system that supports the survival and growth of local pubs. 

In the hope of securing immediate relief to the bottom line of publicans’ purses, we are imploring the next government to extend the current 75% relief for pubs, which is set to expire in March 2025. Extending this relief will offer much-needed financial stability while a new business rates framework is developed. 

Moving away from business rates, we have long called for an end to the excessively high rate of beer duty that UK drinkers pay on every pint, including specific cuts to draught and lower strength rates. This measure will support brewers, maintain the affordability of beer, and promote the emergence of local brewing industries, supporting local economies even further. 

The cost-of-doing-business is too high. To support sustainable growth, boost tourism, and provide parity with supermarkets, the BBPA proposes a lower rate of VAT for food and drink sold in pubs. This policy would level the playing field and encourage greater patronage of pubs across the UK. 

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, emphasized the importance of these proposals, stating:  

"In this year of the 200th anniversary of the British pint, the policies set out in the Beer and Pub manifesto are crucial to the survival and prosperity of pubs across the UK. We know how much pubs contribute not just to the communities in which they sit, but the economies they support locally, regionally and nationally. Extending business rates relief and reducing beer duty, will go a long way to provide the stability and support our industry needs. These measures will help ensure that pubs remain vibrant community hubs, and with the playing field levelled, that they don’t just survive, but they thrive for centuries to come.”