The Beer Story: BBPA premieres film celebrating brewing and pub industry

The 10-minute film was launched at a special event at the Geronimo Inns-owned Westminster boozer The Clarence yesterday afternoon.

The Beer Story - Calling Time on Duty has been released to coincide with the build-up to the Chancellor's March budget which will be delivered in the House of Commons just minutes away from the pub where the movie was launched.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the BBPA, hopes the film will put pressure on George Osborne to act to support an industry which generates £19bn for the UK economy.

"Whether it is lobbying their local MPs or encouraging others to do so, I hope everyone, from beer drinkers, to pubgoers, publicans and the entire beer and pub supply chain will use this new film to help make the case for a fairer deal for our sector," she said.

The Beer Story - Calling Time on Duty:​

Boost investment​

In the movie, journalist, beer sommelier and beer writer Marverine Cole takes a journey around the country to discover the social and economic benefits of the industry.

She makes stops in Suffolk to check out the Adnams brewery; in North Yorkshire to tour the Shoulder of Mutton, a venue supported by Pub is the Hub, and to Westminster to talk to decision makers and industry leaders on what positive impact a freeze in duty could have.

"The 42 per cent tax rises we have endured since 2008 are unsustainable," said Simmonds. "It is vital we get the message across that a change of Government policy could really boost investment and jobs across both beer and pubs – without putting a serious dent in Government revenues," she added.

Despite unanimous support from MPs in a recent parliamentary debate, the Treasury has so far refused to consider a review of the beer duty escalator which has seen tax on a pint rise by 2 per cent above inflation every year since its introduction in 2008.