NO CHEER FOR THE PUB TRADE, SAYS BREWERY BOSS

Mar 13 2008 by Susan Taylor, The Journal

ALISTAIR Darling’s decision to add 4p to a pint of beer was condemned by John Boyle, the managing director of the Wylam Brewery as “lame” and “illogical”.

“I think he’s just used a feeble excuse to screw some more tax out of an old whipping dog,” he said.

The extra 4p-a-pint will push up the cost of a cask of ale leaving the brewery by 5%. Brewers are also being hit by the high price of hops and grain.

“This is just crippling the pub trade,” said Mr Boyle.

“He doesn’t understand that binge drinking isn’t a problem in the pub trade. This will put the nail in a few more coffins.”

Pub numbers are diminishing and the trade is already in “a downward spiral”, he said.

Mr Darling raised the prices of beer, wine and spirits in an effort to stamp out binge drinking.

But cheap supermarket alcohol is the real culprit, said Mr Boyle.

“Beer has nothing to do with this perceived problem of binge drinking. He’s used a lame, illogical excuse for putting 4p on beer to cure a problem that doesn’t exist among beer drinkers.”