Tax cuts on pints at pubs had been welcomed in Bracknell.

This month, the government announced that it will be clipping taxes on pints served in pubs.

Alcohol is one of many things taxed by the government, with taxes from drinks consumption being collected through alcohol duty.

But in a boost for landlords, the government has increased ‘Draught Relief’ for drinks sold on tap at pubs.

That means alcohol duty will be up to 11p less per pint in a pub compared to drinks sold at a supermarket.

The change has been welcomed by James Sunderland, the Conservative MP for Bracknell, who recently held a constituency surgery at the Crown Wood pub to meet with punters and members of the public.

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He was hosted at the Greene King pub by landlord Phil Duhig.

Mr Sunderland said: “Thanks to Phil Duhig at the excellent Crown Wood for hosting my constituency surgery.

“Now, taxes paid on pints in a pub or bar will be cheaper than local supermarkets.

“Please support your local pub!”

The latest alcohol duty changes, which include the draught relief measures, were implemented on Tuesday, August 1, the same day Mr Sunderland visited the Crown Wood.

Mr Sunderland has claimed that alcohol duty can only be kept down because of Brexit, as excise duty on alcohol was previously defined by the European Union.

The UK government is currently engaging in wide-ranging changes to alcohol taxation, with the system being simplified so that all drinks are taxed according to strength.

Supporting the measures, Mr Sunderland stated that they allow duty on sparkling wines, ciders, liqueurs and ready to drink spirits to be cut.

He also hailed the government’s ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee’ that tax on drinks on draught will always be lower than those on retailers.

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The Draught Relief for drinks on tap has also been welcomed by Kevin Lenton, chair of the Berkshire South-East Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Giving his personal view, Mr Lenton said: “The ‘Draught Relief’ is good news and we wait to see if any cost savings filter down to customers, given the extra ‘cost of living’ facing pubs.

“We, in the CAMRA Berkshire South East Branch have not had any permanent pub closures confirmed so far since the pandemic.”

The CAMRA branch covers Bracknell, Wokingham, Ascot, Winkfield, Sandhurst, Sunningdale and Winnersh.

The draught relief was introduced in the goverment’s 2023/24 budget in March and came into implementation this month.