Think tank: Pubs need less tax and regulation

A freeze on beer duty and cut in business taxes is desperately needed to protect the pub industry, according to a think-tank.

The Institute for Public Policy Research's study found that community pubs in particular are suffering from red-tape and tax burdens, reported the FT.

'The government must stop using a one size fits all approach to licensed premises, which is killing off our community pubs,' said its senior research fellow and author of the report Rick Muir.

Larger pub chains have also recently complained about taxation on the industry, with Wetherspoons' chairman Tim Martin knocking the government's stance on tax and employee rules for hurting pubs.

Further reading:

JD Wetherspoon says pub tax is killing industry