Budget 'will hit traditional pub'

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Small brewers have warned Chancellor Alistair Darling's rise in duty on alcohol could threaten the future of the traditional English pub.

Peter Amor, of the Society of Independent Brewers, said the budget was bad news for small brewers.

Mr Amor said it could cost his Hereford-based Wye Valley Brewery £100,000 a year on top of rising fuel, barley and hops prices.

Pubs served by small brewers could be forced to close, he added.

Barley prices have risen 30% and some varieties of hops had trebled in cost, said Mr Amor, who represents 430 independent brewers.

To quote (French writer) Hilaire Belloc, if you lose your pubs you lose your England Peter Amor, Society of Independent Brewers

Mr Darling's budget put 4p on a pint of beer, 14p on a bottle of wine and 55p on a bottle of spirits.

Mr Amor said: "(Mr Darling) has had such a go, he's just picked on an easy target and had a go at the alcohol industry."

He added: "It's a worry particularly because some of the pubs that we supply are obviously going to be hard put so it's going to affect trade.

"It's one of those perfect storms building up in the brewing industry and ultimately... businesses will not survive it. Because of prices, pubs will go out of business."

He said that rises in alcohol prices would not affect binge drinking and that binge drinkers did not normally drink real ale.

He added: "Pubs are the great social place where people go and meet and it's a controlled environment.

"To quote (French writer) Hilaire Belloc, if you lose your pubs you lose your England."