Plea not to raise beer tax in Budget

The government has been urged not to increase tax on beer after a new study showed that almost a million people depend on beer and pubs for work.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has published a study showing the "vital role" the industry played across the country and warned of the impact of any rise in beer tax in the Budget next week. The research found 980,000 workers depend on beer and pubs, while the industry adds more than £21bn to the UK economy every year.