SWINDON brewer Arkell’s has thrown its support behind a national campaign to save the British pub.

The ‘Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub’ campaign was launched yesterday in London.

The idea of the campaign is to force Government to stop upping tax on beer.

Brewers claim that sales of the drink are at their lowest level since the 1930s and that because of that the great British beer trade is under threat.

Research by the campaign, which is backed by Coronation Street actress and barmaid Kym Marsh, group found that if plans to up taxes on beer are forced through, 43,000 jobs could be lost and beer sales will fall by 13 million barrels over the next five years.

“This is not the time to raise beer taxes,” said James Arkell, chairman of Arkell’s Brewery “The Government should be helping to save this great traditional industry, not throwing yet another spanner in the works.

“Ninety per cent of all beer drunk in this country’s pubs is brewed in the United Kingdom, so by increasing the taxes the Government is also driving another nail into the coffin of the country’s manufacturing industry.

“How responsible is that? The best way to promote personal responsibility is to encourage everyone who wants to enjoy a drink to do so within a suitable environment such as a pub or bar where there are other people around.

“Landlords want their customers to have a good time but they also want them to return, so they encourage them to drink responsibly and enjoy their visit.

“The Treasury already takes one third of the price of every pint.

“Beer tax was increased by 9.1 per cent in the last budget and the Chancellor plans to increase it by two per cent above inflation for the next four years.

“The Government’s policy flies in the face of everything it is currently trying to achieve.

“If beer tax rises, jobs are lost both in the pubs and in the manufacturing industry, people stop spending and more beer is likely to be purchased at below cost price from supermarkets.

“That will lead to further increases in violence and disorder caused by excessive drinking of cheap alcohol – which is what the Government’s Home Affairs Select Committee says is the biggest problem currently faced by police forces.

“For the good of the industry and for the country, enough is enough.

“We urge the Government to have the good sense to see that more tax on beer cannot possibly be the solution they are looking for.”