Traders have welcomed the 2013 budget (From Harwich and Manningtree Standard)
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Traders in Harwich have welcomed the 2013 budget
7:30am Friday 22nd March 2013 in News
TRADERS were yesterday raising a glass to the Chancellor of the Exchequer after he scrapped duty rises on fuel and beer.
George Osbourne axed April’s planned rise on beer duty scrapped with the Chancellor instead cutting the price of a pint by 1p.
The annual inflation +2% rise in beer duty is to be ended but a "duty escalator" is to remain in place for wine, cider and spirits.
Nick May, Inn Keeper at The Alma Inn, said: “I think it is quite a good budget for pubs, mostly because pubs in the area are small businesses and the lowering of the national insurance threshold means as small business we are better off.
“While the 1p cut in beer duty is the headline you would have to drink a hell of a lot of beer to see the difference.
“What I am really pleased with is they are stopping the duty accumulation.
“ I think he should have taken a bit more off the duty and put a minimum price on alcohol as pubs sell alcohol responsibly but large supermarket chains can sell a litre of branded vodka for £15 which is irresponsible.
“But overall I think it is a good budget for pubs. “
