The brewing industry has benefitted greatly from the introduction of progressive beer duty, a leading industry figure has said.
Julian Grocock, the chief executive of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), believes that the tax helps to ensure that smaller breweries are not pushed out of the competitive pubs market.
Speaking to the Morning Advertiser, Mr Grocock said that the introduction of the measure was a "shot in the arm" for the sector, preventing bigger companies from enjoying "economies of scale" that put smaller firms at risk of closure.
"PBD has to be seen as an investment in an industry, not a tax give-away. Craft brewing ticks all the ethical boxes – it provides local employment, uses local ingredients and has a low-carbon footprint," he said.
Brewers' finances are certainly being tested at the moment, with a study from the Grocer magazine predicting that the average price of a pub pint will have to rise by 30p to account for the rising cost of commodities.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the brewing industry includes: elevators – bucket elevators – valves
