David Warburton MP has pledged his support for the Long Live the Local campaign to help pubs in his constituency of Somerton and Frome survive.

David joins over 500,000 people who have signed the petition so far, including 1126 in his constituency.

David is calling on the Government to cut beer tax in the Budget. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on brewers and pubs throughout the UK. In 2020 beer sales in pubs fell by 56%, which amounts to £7.8bn in lost sales. The sector needs an immediate boost and the fact that seven in ten alcoholic drinks served in pubs are beer underlines how directly a cut in beer duty can help pubs.

Brewing and pubs in Somerton and Frome supports 1565 jobs and contributes £40.2m to the local economy. With £1 in every £3 pounds spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers pay more in beer duty each year than those in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland combined*.

David has long been a keen supporter of local pubs, having launched his own "Save the Pub" campaign in Somerton & Frome in 2014 while he was a Parliamentary candidate. He has since lobbied the government on many occasions to reduce beer tax, business rates for pub landlords and cider duty for independent cider producers.

David said: "Pubs are at the heart of communities across Somerset, but with pubs bearing a disproportionate burden as a result of the pandemic the Government should consider a cut to beer tax. I'm supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and calling on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year's Budget to support pubs in our local communities."

The Programme Director, Long Live The Local David Cunningham, said:

"Beer duty has increased by 60% over the last 17 years and now the UK has one of the highest rates of tax in Europe. When over two thirds of all alcoholic drinks purchased in the pub are beers, a cut in beer tax would go a long way to protecting pubs across Somerton and Frome that have suffered so much in the last year.

"We are very grateful to David Warburton MP for their support for the Long Live the Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to MPs across Parliament and the thousands of people across the country who are calling for a cut in beer tax to protect our pubs."