Tax on a pint will fall for the third year running, today’s Budget has revealed.
Beer duty will fall by 1p per pint, whilst cider and whisky will enjoy a 2% cut.
Wine duty has been frozen whilst taxes on tobacco and gaming are unchanged.
Glasgow-based Tennent’s Caledonian Brewery called the decision to to cut beer and cider duty “good news” for both the industry and the consumer.
However the company, which owns brands such as Tennent’s Lager and Magner’s Cider, continue to raise concerns around the issue of tied pubs.
John Gilligan, spokesman at Tennent Caledonian Breweries said: “We welcome the announcement, which is good news for both the industry and the consumer.
“However, we continue to raise concerns around the disparity between Scotland and England and Wales around the issue of tied pubs.
“We strongly believe that Scottish tenants should have a Market Rent Only (MRO) option as an alternative to being compelled to pay inflated rent and buy a restricted range of beer at inflated prices from their pub company landlords.
He added: “We look forward to political progress on this issue.
“If this is delayed, and the rest of the UK is allowed to unburden themselves from tied pubs, then we place Scottish pubs and producers at a serious disadvantage.”
