The View From Westminster Our regular political

The view from Westminster

It’s all change again in Parliament as the shambolic Mini-Budget announcements in September led to another Prime Minister and a new set of Ministers. SIBA has spent the last few months getting to know the new Ministerial crop and now faces having to start again with a brand new team. By my count we are now on our eighth Exchequer Secretary since the Government began the review of Small Breweries’ Relief (SBR) in 2018 and yet this issue has not yet been completely resolved.

As it currently stands there’s two big issues coming your way in August next year which breweries need to start preparing for. The first is the complete overhaul of the alcohol duty system which sees SBR become part of a souped-up Small Producer Relief. The second is the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme which impacts all small pack sales in Scotland.

Alcohol duty system

The Government finally published its update on the alcohol duty changes in September which included significant wins for SIBA and small independent brewers. The fundamental redesign, which will now be introduced in August next year, will transform the alcohol duty system. You can read my guide to the changes in this copy of the SIBA magazine (see pages 56-57) or see the detailed briefings available online on the Toolbox. Amongst the changes there was success for our Make It 20 campaign, with the Government including 20L and 30L containers in the new draught duty relief – the 5% reduction in duty for beer placed in kegs and casks. Alongside that, the Government is intending to expand the farmgate exemption to include small breweries and has accepted SIBA’s view on the average ABV to set the new tapers. SIBA is also pushing for transitional relief so that breweries don’t have to recalculate duty twice (or potentially three times if they don’t freeze duty) next year. One issue that has arisen in the latest version of the changes is its impact on growlers and crowlers. Currently as drafted it would mean that a pub cannot ‘repackage’ beer into takeaway containers, which would negatively impact community pubs alongside taprooms and brewery shops. This is something that SIBA and others are working with the Government to address and hopefully find a solution.

SIBA continues to lobby for changes and we’ve had a great deal of engagement with the Minister with three meetings in only a couple of months.

Scottish DRS

In Scotland, the Government continues to plod along with the Deposit Return Scheme – which sees a deposit added to each can and bottle sold. If you sell into Scotland, even online or via a bottleshop’s webshop, you’ll have to register and pay fees to cover the costs. The window to register opens in December and closes at the end of February. If you are not registered before 1 March you will not be allowed to sell cans and bottles in Scotland so it’s very important that you take the time to register. SIBA continues to lobby for changes and we’ve had a great deal of engagement with the Minister with three meetings in only a couple of months. They’ve listened to our concerns about the online takeback service which we’re now expecting to be reconsidered. Hopefully we’ll get some positive movement on small producers as well.

Get your beer into Parliament

A great way to engage with your MP is to have your beer poured in Parliament. You can have your cask ale chosen as the guest ale for the Strangers’ Bar. It’s a great opportunity to come down to Parliament, have some photos taken to send to the local press and lobby your local MP for changes. We can be there to support you all the way, including on the day in Parliament if you wish. If you decide you want to request your beer be served in the Strangers’ bar, please either e-mail will.lockwood@siba.co.uk or your local MP who will be able to assist you.

Barry Watts is Head of Public Affairs and Policy at SIBA. He covers political relations and policy for SIBA members. He can be contacted at barry.watts@siba. co.uk or 07977837804.