The campaign to secure a third, historic cut in beer duty moved up another gear today, with the launch of a new website from the BBPA, where supporters can email their MP asking then to back the campaign.

The website, www.beerandpubjobs.co.uk, provides a huge range of unique local data where campaigners can easily access figures on the positive impact of beer and pubs on jobs and the local economy in their own areas. Whether it’s Parliamentary constituencies, local council areas, or Britain’s nations and regions, there is a wealth of new data available.

The website also provides a brand new ‘email your MP’ tool, where just by inputting their postcode, supporters can send a message to their local representative calling for a duty cut.

There is also a fun, new ‘be the Chancellor’ tool, where users can see how many jobs would be created with any cut in duty, and how it would affect the price of a pub pint.

All the new local data on the site is based on a new report by experts at Oxford Economics for the BBPA, and provides a compelling case for a third, historic cut in beer duty in the Budget. Nationwide, it finds that an astonishing 870,000 jobs depend on British beer and pubs – and almost half (44 per cent) are younger workers under 25.  Beer and pubs add almost £22 billion to the economy each year.

The industry brings “significant economic benefits to the national economy”, says the report. It finds that brewing itself sustains over 100,000 UK jobs, but it is in pubs where the jobs impact is most felt, with 770,000 jobs supported by the nation’s 48,000 pubs.

Brigid Simmonds, BBPA Chief Executive, comments:

“Joining the campaign for a third cut in beer duty is easer that it has ever been before. I hope as many people as possible visit the website, use the huge amount of local information available, and most importantly send a message to their MP about this vital issue for beer and pubs.”