Member support and communications

Licensing laws

We have made the case to the Home Office for licensing laws to be temporarily relaxed to allow breweries that do not have an off-licence to be able to sell beer directly to the public. Working with Mike Hampshire we prepared options for the Government to do so. The Home Office initially rejected our proposals but we have been working with Number 10 and the Business Department on making the case again. In addition, we have been providing clarification and guidance to our members on local licensing issues as they arise. Around ¼ of SIBA members cannot sell directly to the public under the licenses they have.

Start up support

In recent weeks, the Government has begun to focus on starting up the economy. SIBA has ongoing conversations with officials on the process and logistics (what needs to be in place and in what order), timing (how long breweries need) and support (either through extending the existing financial measures such as flexible furlough or new initiatives). While SIBA are still developing its proposals, our conversations have included start up grants and beer duty holidays. We have helped the Business Department to draw up case studies to understand the impact of Covid19 on the industry.

Over the next week as the Government announce how lockdown provisions will be relaxed, SIBA will be monitoring closely and making recommendations to Government on both the practicalities of how our industry works and what we require by means of additional support.

The UK has brewing capacity for much, much more than will likely be required by pubs and the need for continuing direct support from Government is clear.

Beer Duty and destruction in cellar

SIBA has been working with the BBPA and HMRC to develop policies for the disposal of spoilt beer in pub cellars and in breweries. This includes much needed clarification for brewers on claiming duty, beer in wholesalers and crediting pubs.

The BBPA have published their latest guidance on 1 st May. We made requests to work the BBPA on making this guidance a joint, pan industry proposal but this was not forthcoming so we are now working on our own, more practical version. We have submitted written evidence to the Business Committee for its inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on business and have prepared evidence for the All-Party Group on Hospitality’s inquiry on the pathways to recovery.

HMRC have made clear that beer duty reclaim would normally be deducted from the next beer duty payment. After intense lobbying HRMC have confirmed that brewers can claim duty back on destroyed beer as cash, rather than on your production account.

SIBA continues to support its members through the lobbying of Parliament and MPs, including Written Questions to Ministers, meetings with MPs and letters on behalf of members.