Sponsored by
Tax fears leave a bitter taste in pubs
BLACKPOOL'S pub and clubland today pleaded with Chancellor George Osborne: "Don't kill us with tax hikes."
It is widely expected the Government will hit the licensing trade hard in the emergency budget on June 22.
And a five per cent rise in alcohol duty – the second such rise in three months – is already being mooted.
Chancellor George Osborne is set to reveal the tax-raising package next week and reports suggest VAT is likely to be increased as well as part of the Government's plans to reduce the national deficit.
The reported extra five per cent on alcohol tax has been met with disbelief by social clubs who have already suffered since the introduction of the smoking ban.
Terry Schofield, owner of the Blackpool Trades Club on Chadwick Street, said: "The Government seem intent on hitting publicans and punters where it hurts. If this continues, even more pubs and clubs in the town will close.
"This is just another sounding of the death knell for the once-thriving social scene in Blackpool."
Kim Jensen, from the Progress Sports and Social Club on Exchange Street, said: "We have just dropped our prices and the staff have taken a pay cut too. Putting the prices up again will put more and more people off coming to these clubs."
Duty on beer has risen sharply in the last two years alone and 40 pubs a week are closing across the country.
Beer tax is eight times higher than in France, ten times higher than in Spain and 11 times higher than Germany.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY SEE WEDNESDAY'S GAZETTE.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 27 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South west
