CAMRA has welcomed the cut in draught beer duty announced in the Budget, but still fears for the future of pubs and clubs.

In his Budget, chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an 11p draught duty cut but offered little help for pubs and clubs facing crippling energy bills.

CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona said: “The chancellor has made a welcome move to increase the draught duty rate discount to 11p, which will help pubs compete with the likes of supermarket alcohol. However, the lower tax rate is not coming until August, and we must hope that as many pubs as possible will be able to keep their doors open until then. 

“With many parts of the licensed trade struggling to make ends meet, and consumers tightening their belts, hikes in general duty rates are the last thing breweries need, so it’s right that these have been frozen until the new system is introduced. 

 “With support for energy bills being extended for households, licensees will be devastated to hear that help for them will end on 1 April. This was a make-or-break Budget for pubs and social clubs, and the future of many businesses is now at risk, with an imminent cliff edge in support and rocketing energy costs on top of the other pressures facing the licensed trade. Communities will lose their pubs because energy support is ending.

“It is also bitterly disappointing not to see the extension of help for pubs and breweries with the burden of business rates. With current support schemes due to end in 2024, these rates bills can be the difference between continuing to trade or having to close for good. The government urgently needs to reform the whole business rates system to fix the issues with this unfair system and help to protect our pubs.”