Alcohol prices could rise by 10% next year because of tax increases, said the head of InBev UK
Alcohol prices could rise by 10% next year because of tax increases, the head of a major brewer has said.
Stuart MacFarlane from AB InBev UK, which owns brands including Beck's, Stella and Budweiser, told The Grocer the majority of price rises in 2010 would come from "Government meddling".
From January, VAT will go up by 2.5% and in April alcohol duty will go up by 2%.
Mr MacFarlane said the drinks industry could be hit by further increases in the pre-budget report next month and tax could rise yet further if a new Government comes in next year.
He said: "The Government is hindering a sustainable and profitable beer industry. I have gone from being concerned to angry.
"The Government's thinking is not joined up. Are we policing underage drinking on the streets enough? No. It should better enforce laws already in place."
Last month campaigners called for alcohol prices to go up in a bid to persuade people to drink more moderately.
Alcohol Concern urged the Government to consider higher duty on stronger drinks and charges of at least 50p per unit.
It was backed by the British Liver Trust (BLT), which said drink-related deaths had trebled in the past 25 years and a price clampdown was the only way to stem the tide.
As a Publican,i can see that prices in certain area's ie supermarkets etc should be increased.due to the fact that most trouble involving drunks etc are caused by people getting cheap beer ,drinking at home the going out and maybe having one drink in the pub then causing bother.this occurs mainly in town center pubs that allow people that are under the influence to be served(Lack of staff training )under the terms of your licence this is not allowed!.To help policing the superarkets are mainly to blame for trouble spots due to pricing ,Anyone in authority must see this,Please Mr Brown and co ,this is where you should be looking
a concerned publican
i don't think for one minute that the price rise is about drink related deaths .it's about MONEY ! taxing the
public again and again isn't the answer . local pubs are
suffering because of greed . and i don't mean town centre bars . greedy holding companies and government
that's what's killing the pub trade .people have a choice
to drink or not to drink .and rightly so hagred lack of proper training in town centre bars .and yes supermarkets are partly to blame.but why should local pubs suffer .and the working man who just wants a pint
LET'S BLAME IT ON ALCOHOL AGAIN !
I believe the the tax should rise by at least 50%.
Perhaps this would halt the binge drinking culture this country has, reduce antisocial behaviour. save money on policing and the health service and make the UK a much better and safer place to live.
This would only affect those who drink to excess and think that they cannot have a good time without getting totally wrecked.
Those who have a pint or a bottle of wine occasionally would hardly notice the increase.
Garage for petrol: bakers for bread: alcahol for public houses you stop selling beer in the supermarkets watch the drink related crime drop, you know the answer you just want the money over peoples health and sometimes death and bring back the old tap room so some of us can have a smoke if thats what we want to do ......and i wouldnt vote for conservatives in my life depended on it i have a memory of them lot...........
This is a no brainer bread from a bakers petrol from a garage and ALCOHOL FROM PUBLIC House's that should just about cut the probes' in half we need a voice in this country instead of politicians just letting big companies rip us of all the time, they sit and look out of the london windows and think they see the country then make decision well i want to smoke like you made me hooked on the dam things, and what is wrong with the tap room this is just wrong........