UK's not-for-profit consumer group The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling for the renewal of a beer duty freeze as the government prepares to unveil its latest proposals for the economy.
The group is calling for a beer duty freeze ahead of the Autumn Statement and consider a further cut in next year's Budget.
It also expressed its concerns over the continued effects of the escalation in beer duty in the 2008-2013 period. As a result of which it says, thousands of pubs were closed and several jobs lost.
CAMRA added that the aftershocks of the beer duty escalator are still impacting the sector, especially in times of economic uncertainties.
It said that the government needed to intervene by taking steps to help the UK pub and beer sector revive. According to CAMRA, on an average, 21 pubs are getting closed each week while off-trade sales of beer surpassed on-trade sales for the first time in 2015.
CAMRA National Chairman Colin Valentine, pubs in particular are crippled with significant cost burdens - from business rates, pension auto enrolment to increases in the national living wage.
Valentine added that there has been a drastic shift from people drinking in pubs to people drinking at home as UK beer drinkers have been made to pay much higher duty, at 52.2p on their pint compared to other leading beer drinking countries.
He also said: "Pubs provide a safe, social environment to consume alcohol and in many cases act as the hub to the local community. They can have a huge impact on a person's well-being and can help individuals make friends and build networks.
“Their continued existence, and the valued role that they play in society, should remain a priority for this Government."
The real ale campaign, with more than 183,000 members, also wants a fairer deal for pubs from the government on business rates.
