200th anniversary of the Pint...

As the pint celebrates its 200th anniversary, nearly a quarter of a million Brits have thrown their support behind a nationwide push to save their beloved local.

New British Pub and Beer Association statistics show almost a fifth of UK pubs have closed since Labour’s last budget in 2010.

The Long Live the Local campaign is demanding a cut in beer duty, business rates reform, and the 75% business rates relief maintained to ensure pubs can survive.

On Tuesday 10 September, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the pint, Kevin Hollinrake MP (Thirsk and Malton) raised a glass to the great British pint.

Kevin Hollinrake MP came together with other MPs after it was revealed more than 210,000 people have pledged their support to their local pub as pressure grows for the government to take action.

The Long Live the Local campaign aims to raise awareness of the social and economic value of pubs and breweries across the UK.

Backed by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) - whose members brew 90% of the UK’s beer and own over 20,000 pubs - the campaign is drawing attention to the challenges faced by the industry as the cost of doing business reaches an all-time high. 

That’s why, ahead of the budget announcement, Long Live the Local is calling for a cut in beer duty, business rates reform, and commitment from the government to keep the 75% business rates relief to ensure that pubs can survive.

With almost a fifth (18%) of pubs closing since Labour’s last budget announcement in 2010, the BBPA has enlisted the support of the British public to raise awareness of the economic realities faced by the industry. And these calls have not gone unnoticed.

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