Ben Lake MP has pledged his support for the Long Live the Local Campaign to help pubs in Ceredigion keep their doors open.

Mr Lake joins the more than 240,000 people who have signed the petition so far, including 335 in Ceredigion.

Mr Lake is calling on the government to cut beer tax at the budget.

With £1 in every £3 spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers now pay 40 per cent of all beer tax across the EU, but drink only 12 per cent of the beer.

Seven in 10 alcoholic drinks served in pubs are beer, underlining how directly a cut in beer duty will help pubs.

Brewing and pubs in Ceredigion supports 1,169 jobs and contributes £23.1m to the local economy.

Mr Lake said: “Pubs are at the heart of communities across Ceredigion, but with three pubs closing their doors for good every day across the UK, we must acknowledge that these community assets are facing significant challenges as they try to stay open. For this reason I am supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and calling on the chancellor to cut beer tax for licenced premises in this year’s budget to support pubs in our local communities.”

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “Beer duty has increased by 60 per cent 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 Ceredigion.

“We are very grateful to Ben Lake for his 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.”

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