PUBLICANS have given their verdict on the alcohol duty price freeze, arguing that it certainly will not hurt the trade but there are other financial pressures on the industry. 

Pub landlords in Worcestershire cautiously welcomed yet another alcohol duty freeze but said the benefit will be offset by other pressures and costs bearing down on the trade.

Worcester News: WELCOME: Fred Jones, landlord of The Imperial Tavern in St Nicholas Street in Worcester city centre, has welcomed the freeze but says other pressures exist within the trade which offset the benefits WELCOME: Fred Jones, landlord of The Imperial Tavern in St Nicholas Street in Worcester city centre, has welcomed the freeze but says other pressures exist within the trade which offset the benefits (Image: James Connell/Newsquest photos)

Duty on beer, wines and spirits was due rise by 3 per cent in August but the freeze has been extended to February next year as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the Government was 'backing the great British pub'.

Fred Jones, landlord of the Imperial Tavern in Worcester city centre, said: "While the extended price freeze is a welcome relief on paper, the main suppliers in the UK are still putting prices up which ultimately affects the price at the bar."

Mr Jones previously reported that pubs across the city had enjoyed a bumper Christmas and New Year, helped by the Victorian Christmas Fayre, which had given the trade a shot in the arm as the public put the Covid-19 pandemic well and truly behind them.

Worcester News: RESPONSE: Matt Williams, landlord of the Old Bush in Callow End, says the freeze is certainly no bad thing but there are other considerations too RESPONSE: Matt Williams, landlord of the Old Bush in Callow End, says the freeze is certainly no bad thing but there are other considerations too (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Matt Williams, landlord of the Old Bush in Callow End, said the freeze was 'certainly no bad thing' but that breweries would be putting up prices anyway.

"It won't hurt us but it won't help us either. We're fighting rising costs which causes problems," he said.

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However, he said that the price of cooking oil had fallen (after a steep rise) which would help the business. 

"That will help us more than the beer tax," he said.

Announcing the extension in his House of Commons budget speech, Mr Hunt said: "This benefits 38,000 pubs across the UK - on top of the £13,000 saving a typical pub will get from the 75 per cent business rates discount announced in the autumn.

"We value our hospitality industry and are backing the great British pub." 

As part of the budget, the six-month alcohol duty freeze announced at the Autumn Statement will be extended until February 1, 2025, saving consumers 2p on a pint of beer, 1p on a pint of cider, 10p on a bottle of wine and 33p on a bottle of spirit compared to if the planned rise had gone ahead.