I got a reply...
'Think you for contacting me about alcohol taxation and, specifically, Progressive Beer Duty (PBD). I can assure you that, in the run-up to the Budget, Ministers will bear in mind the broader points you make.
As you may know, the Government has pledged a wider review of alcohol taxation and pricing. Ministers are very clear that binge drinking must be tackled in a way that does not unfairly penalise responsible drinkers, pubs and local industry. I know that Ministers are aware of the PBD issue, not least because it has been mentioned in a number of submissions to the review.
More broadly, I share your desire to secure the future of the Great British Pub and support the Chancellor’s recent decision to reverse the last Government’s increase in cider duty of ten per cent above inflation and to avoid increasing alcohol duty over and above the planned increase inherited from the previous administration.
The Government is also committed to banning the sake of alcohol at below cost price. Ministers intend to introduce a new additional duty on beers over 7.5 per cent alcohol by volume (abv) in strength. Changes will also be made to introduce a reduced rate of duty on beers produced at an alcoholic strength of 2.8 per cent or below.
These measures will tackle the excessive consumption of alcohol – which fuels much anti-social behaviour – without unduly penalising pubs or responsible drinkers.'
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