RISHI Sunak is under pressure from Tory MPs to slash beer duty in today's Budget, with North West Durham MP Richard Holden co-ordinating a letter to the Chancellor last month.

The Chancellor has promised a lifeline to the sector, so a freeze or cut could be on the cards. 

A cut in the duty would help pubs that have suffered massively as a result of coronavirus lockdowns.

Last month a group of 68 Conservative MPs wrote to the Chancellor making the case for a duty cut, warning the “devastating” consequences of the pandemic have put pubs and breweries at risk.

They said that some pubs, many of them “long-standing community assets” could be lost for good – with a “substantial” knock-on effect on brewers.

The average UK pint is taxed around 11 times higher than the equivalent beer in Germany or Spain, they said, with the total £3.6 billion in beer duty paid each year higher than France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland combined.

Britons pay 54p in duty on a pint of five per cent beer, while in Spain and Germany the equivalent duty would be just 5p.

While there has been much speculation around furlough, Universal Credit and tax, little has been said regarding beer duty.

Alcohol prices usually rise each year, in line with RPI inflation unless the Chancellor freezes or cuts it in the Budget which is what happened last year. 

Duty on all alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine and spirits, was frozen last year and another freeze would be a welcome boost to the hospitality industry.

From April 12, hospitality venues can serve people outdoors while 'wet' pubs can set takeaway pints.

There will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcohol, and no curfew - although customers must order, eat and drink while seated.

Pubs and restaurants can open their doors for guests inside from May 17 as long as covid hospitalisations remain low.