Women’s Euro Finals could mean 1 million extra pints sold

An estimated 1 million extra pints could be drunk during Sunday’s Women’s Euro Finals, potentially boosting the economy by £5 million, new British Beer and Pub Association statistics reveal.

The leading trade body highlighted that fans watching in England and Wales will pay over ten times more than those watching the game in Spain.

Further analysis finds that England fans will pay approximately £500,000 in duty on the 1 million extra pints expected to be poured, whilst Spanish fans would pay approximately £48,000 for the same quantity.

Using the Budget to reduce beer duty rates to be on par with European neighbours would boost British production, deliver new investment, and keep a lid on the price of a pint, the BBPA said.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said:

“The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it’s no surprise that people will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our fantastic Lionesses.

“However, UK pub goers will pay over ten times more in beer duty than Spain, a totally unfair situation which highlights why Government must use the Budget to reduce beer duty.

“This reduction would help unlock the sector’s potential to drive even more growth for the economy, boost jobs, and means our communities aren’t paying more than our European neighbours.”

The fresh figures come after previous BBPA statistics predicted that the Women’s Euros would bring an additional £13 million into the British Economy, with over 2.6 million extra pints drunk.

The UK pays the fourth highest beer duty compared to the other competing nations and pays on average three times more than other European countries.

Following the avalanche of new packaging and Budget costs that came into effect in April, the BBPA is calling on Government to ease the strain on the brewing and pub sector by reducing beer duty.

The BBPA is calling for a reduction in beer duty toward the EU average, as current rates remain almost three times higher than European neighbours.

More than a million jobs depend upon the beer and pub sector, which boosts the economy by more than £34 billion every year and creates a place where communities can gather under one roof.

Despite these huge contributions, the extra Government-imposed costs mean the average pint will now cost an extra 21p and breach the £5 barrier to mitigate new costs.

The British Beer and Pub Association is calling on the Government to deliver on their promise to meaningfully and permanently reform the business rates system, mitigate new employment costs, review the chaotic and eye-watering packaging EPR costs and cut beer duty.