Long Live the Local

Backed by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the campaign celebrates the vital role that local pubs play in our communities, culture and national identity. In the run up to the Chancellor’s autumn Budget, it calls on the Government to cut high beer tax to help keep British pubs open.

Over the next few months, Britain’s Beer Alliance will run a social media campaign asking people to support their local pub. There’ll be MP lobbying events and a call for publicans and pub goers to write to local MPs to call for a cut in beer duty.

Pubs, brewing and other related industries add £23 billion to the economy and support over 900,000 jobs. Pubs are one of the few remaining public spaces offering a unique combination of great food, drink and atmosphere at the heart of the community.

You can watch a special video that celebrates the great British pub, and via the Long Live the Local website you can write to your local MP and sign the petition to cut beer tax.

A recent study by the BBPA revealed nine in ten UK adults (89%) are pub goers. 63% said pubs bring the community together and 99% believe their local is a great place for celebrations and special occasions.

Between 2008 and 2013, the industry experienced the devastating impact of a five year increase on beer duty. In 5 years, beer sales declined by 24% in pubs, 5000 pubs closed and 58,000 pub and brewing related jobs were lost.

With half of all pub-lovers saying the number one reason they would reconsider a visit to the pub is higher prices, the rise in beer tax planned in the budget this autumn is set to put local pubs and their contribution to communities in jeopardy.

Our pubs play a really important role at the heart of the community. They’re a place for people to eat, drink, socialise, celebrate and have fun. We’re proud of our relationship with local communities and we’re dedicated to bringing people together for years to come.

More information can be found at longlivethelocal.pub.