Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 July 2025 to Question 66478 on Innovation: Beer and Public Houses, whether 16 and 17 year olds will be permitted to consume non-alcoholic products with substantive meals accompanied by an adult.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, the Government has committed to exploring measures to regulate access to no- and low-alcohol (NoLo) products in line with other alcoholic beverages. This policy is being pursued as alcohol substitute drinks are only intended for consumption by adults.
Department officials are progressing work to take forward this commitment and are in the process of scoping out the full details. We will update stakeholders in due course.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of employers' National Insurance contribution rates on the financial viability of (a) pubs and (b) breweries in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government closely monitors the health of different sectors across the UK economy and regularly engages with the hospitality sector.
The Government protected the smallest hospitality businesses from the recent changes to employer National Insurance through increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500.
We have also taken a number of other steps to support the hospitality industry. This includes:
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help increase access to pubs for guest beers from independent breweries within the (a) review of market access for small breweries and (b) statutory review of the Pubs Code.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that independent breweries are essential to the diversity and character of our pubs. We're currently assessing the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small brewers from accessing pubs.
This review specifically references market access for small brewers, and will cover all subcategories of the pub sector, including leased and tenanted pubs. It will not, however, consider the merits of different pub models. We’re considering the review’s findings and will announce in due course any measures that may need to be taken.
The Pubs Code (the Code) applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covering around 8,000 pubs. Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to support (a) hospitality, (b) consumers, (c) pubs and (d) breweries by (i) reducing (A) VAT and (B) draught beer and cider duty and (ii) introducing targeted relief for (1) energy and (2) employment costs through the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses, including pubs, to economic growth and social life in the UK.
The Government keeps all areas of the tax system under review. Any changes to the tax system are announced as part of the annual Budget process.
On VAT, HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £13 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater. VAT reliefs reduce the revenue available to fund public services and must be good value for the taxpayer.
The current duty system supports breweries through Draught Relief, which ensures products served on draught pay less duty, and Small Producer Relief, which permits smaller producers to pay reduced duty rates.
In recognition of the economic and cultural importance of pubs, as well as the wider ‘on trade’, at Autumn Budget 2024 the Government cut alcohol duty on qualifying draught products by 1.7% in cash terms. This duty reduction, worth over £85m a year, covers approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs and is equivalent to a 1p duty reduction on a typical pint.
As a Government we understand the importance to businesses of reducing their energy bills and reaching net zero and recognise the barriers businesses face trying to overcome these challenges. On energy costs, the Government has announced a new Zero Carbon Services Hospitality Trial, which aims to provide pubs, cafés, restaurants and hotels with free energy and carbon-cutting advice to slash their energy bills as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. This initiative is designed to help businesses reduce costs and support the transition to net zero.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of equalising cider and beer duty.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Alcohol duty on all products collectively raises over £12bn a year, helping to fund vital public services as well as reduce harmful drinking.
The 2023 alcohol duty reforms brought much greater consistency of treatment between different types of alcohol. The reforms also increased duty on cider above 4.5% ABV, particularly targeting high-strength white ciders that have been linked to harmful drinking.
HMRC plans to evaluate the impact of these reforms three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023, and the Government welcomes evidence from industry on the impact of the changes so far.
HMRC does not collect data on cidermakers producing less than 5 hectolitres of pure alcohol in a year. This is because, as per Section 5.2 of the Alcoholic products technical guide, producers are not required to submit a return if they produced 5 hectolitres or less of alcohol in the previous year and have estimated that they will produce 5 hectolitres or less of alcohol in the current year, across all premises. More information on the Alcoholic products technical guide can be found here:
Alcoholic products technical guide - Section 5 — returns and payments - Guidance - GOV.UK
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the contribution of gaming machines to the level of pubs’ supplementary income.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the contribution of pubs to the nighttime economy in the UK, as well as the commercial pressures they face.
Although the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Gambling Commission do not hold official statistics on the contribution of gaming machines to the level of pubs’ supplementary income, we recognise that gaming machines are an important source of revenue to many pubs across the country.
Trade associations representing the pub sector, including the British Beer and Pub Association, UK Hospitality and the British Institute of Innkeeping, recently emphasised the importance of gaming machines in pubs, estimating that 48% of pubs have at least one gaming machine, with the total income from these machines equating to £622m per year.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 54458, with reference to the press release entitled Six pubs a week shutting their doors for good, published on 17 February 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the estimated rate of pub closures on the attractiveness of tourism in the UK.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the vital role of pubs and hospitality businesses in both local communities and the attractiveness of the UK as a visitor destination. While DCMS has not made a formal assessment, we continue working with other Government departments to ensure that targeted support is provided for the sector.
The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. We plan to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000. We have also reduced alcohol duty on qualifying draught beer products, saving the sector over £85 million annually.
The Government is also working to reduce barriers to growth for businesses, including those in the hospitality sector by streamlining the licensing system. For example, in April, we launched the Licensing Taskforce to guide reforms. As part of the Small Business Strategy launched at the end of July, a new National Licensing Policy Framework will simplify outdated rules making it easier and more affordable to open and run hospitality venues.
We’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme and, in rural areas, £440,000 is being invested to help pubs diversify as community hubs, creating jobs and enhancing the visitor offer - helping to sustain a vibrant hospitality sector that supports the UK’s tourism appeal.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the beer duty rate on (a) pubs and (b) hospitality businesses in (i) rural and (ii) coastal communities.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Pubs and brewers make a significant contribution to our economy and society, including through supporting jobs, and this is reflected in the tax system.
The alcohol duty system supports pubs and hospitality businesses through Draught Relief (DR), which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. This recognises the cultural importance of pubs and other on-trade venues as community hubs that play a role in encouraging responsible drinking in supervised settings.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced a duty cut on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This is the equivalent to a 1p reduction on a typical pint, and means draught beer now pays 13.9% less in duty than its packaged equivalents – an increase of over 50% on the previous draught discount of 9.2%. The Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on this measure is published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-rates-of-alcohol-duty/alcohol-duty-uprating
HMRC plans to evaluate the impact of the 2023 alcohol duty reforms, including DR, three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023. This allows time for HMRC to gather a broad range of data to properly evaluate the impacts. The Government welcomes evidence from industry on the impact of the changes so far.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and, as with all taxes, the Government keeps alcohol duty under review as part of its Budget process. The Government welcomes representations from the beer and pub sectors in advance of the Budget.
Treasury ministers have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-traveL
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the (a) brewing and (b) pub sectors on beer duty rates.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Pubs and brewers make a significant contribution to our economy and society, including through supporting jobs, and this is reflected in the tax system.
The alcohol duty system supports pubs and hospitality businesses through Draught Relief (DR), which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. This recognises the cultural importance of pubs and other on-trade venues as community hubs that play a role in encouraging responsible drinking in supervised settings.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced a duty cut on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This is the equivalent to a 1p reduction on a typical pint, and means draught beer now pays 13.9% less in duty than its packaged equivalents – an increase of over 50% on the previous draught discount of 9.2%. The Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on this measure is published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-rates-of-alcohol-duty/alcohol-duty-uprating
HMRC plans to evaluate the impact of the 2023 alcohol duty reforms, including DR, three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023. This allows time for HMRC to gather a broad range of data to properly evaluate the impacts. The Government welcomes evidence from industry on the impact of the changes so far.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and, as with all taxes, the Government keeps alcohol duty under review as part of its Budget process. The Government welcomes representations from the beer and pub sectors in advance of the Budget.
Treasury ministers have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-traveL
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reduced rate of beer duty for draught products on the (a) on-trade and (b) off-trade sectors.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Pubs and brewers make a significant contribution to our economy and society, including through supporting jobs, and this is reflected in the tax system.
The alcohol duty system supports pubs and hospitality businesses through Draught Relief (DR), which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. This recognises the cultural importance of pubs and other on-trade venues as community hubs that play a role in encouraging responsible drinking in supervised settings.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced a duty cut on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This is the equivalent to a 1p reduction on a typical pint, and means draught beer now pays 13.9% less in duty than its packaged equivalents – an increase of over 50% on the previous draught discount of 9.2%. The Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on this measure is published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-rates-of-alcohol-duty/alcohol-duty-uprating
HMRC plans to evaluate the impact of the 2023 alcohol duty reforms, including DR, three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023. This allows time for HMRC to gather a broad range of data to properly evaluate the impacts. The Government welcomes evidence from industry on the impact of the changes so far.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and, as with all taxes, the Government keeps alcohol duty under review as part of its Budget process. The Government welcomes representations from the beer and pub sectors in advance of the Budget.
Treasury ministers have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-traveL