Fear new takeaway draught beer rules could hit Bury St Edmunds beer festival and pubs

Hundreds of pints of beer could be poured away if a Bury St Edmunds beer festival is forced to abandon takeaway sales to comply with new legislation.

However, its organiser is hopeful he can avoid wasting beer and cider, despite confusion about new alcohol duty rates which come into effect next month.

From August 1 a new – lower – draught duty rate will apply to many draught beer and cider containers, however, the new legislation bans any sales from draught duty-paid containers for consumption off the premises.

According to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), this includes beer festivals.

CAMRA has contacted festival organisers saying bottled and canned beers and ciders could still be sold for takeaway, but it is advising festivals to stop making any takeaway draught sales to ensure compliance with the new legislation.

Martin Bate, who organises the annual East Anglian Beer and Cider festival, held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, said there was widespread confusion over the new legislation, with brewers and publicans struggling to navigate the changes.

On Tuesday, Martin said while stopping takeway sales would have an impact on the festival, he was hopeful paying a higher rate of duty – roughly adding around £2 to the cost of every cask – would see it able to continue as in previous years.

“These new rules are complicated to the extent some breweries probably don’t know anything about it or understand it. It is coming in on August 1 and nobody seems to know what’s going on,” said Martin.

“The problem we have got is we have a lot of beer left over at the end of the festival and we try to sell it takeaway at a discount or give it to our staff and volunteers.

“Now, we might not be able to do that.”

However, Martin said after picking through the legislation he believed he could pay the higher duty on casks – roughly an extra £2 per cask – and carry on selling takeaway draught beer.

“It is important that we get it right, but I believe if we decant it into containers we must make sure we pay the higher duty on the full cask,” he said.

“I know CAMRA sent out the advice because they don’t want to get it wrong, but my next step is to write to CAMRA and say ‘I don’t think we have got a problem’.”

Martin said if he was forced to abandon takeaway ale sales it could see an estimated 20 firkins – up to 1,440 pints – ‘chucked away’ at the end of this year’s festival, which is at St Edmundsbury Cathedral from August 23-28.

“It’s a staggering amount. I really don’t want to have to do that,” he said. “Let’s hope we have a bumper year and sell it all.”

The new duty rules will also have an impact on pubs which offer takeaway draught sales a they would either have to pay a higher rate on all their casks or have separate casks – with duty paid at the higher rate – just for takeaway sales.

Roger Waters, landlord of The Dove, in Hospital Road, said takeaway sales were an important and popular aspect of his business.

“The situation here is publicans have to buy beer that you pull at one rate of duty but if you’re going to do any takeaway we have to buy a whole cask at the higher rate of duty – even if you’re only going to sell a pint of it to takeaway,” said Roger.

The Dove has several draught beers and Roger faces the prospect of paying higher duty on them all if he continues takeaway sales as at present, reducing the selection of beers available for takeaway, or stopping takeaway draught sales altogether.

He added: “It is a minefield – and not just for us but for brewers and beer festivals, too.”

Nik Antona, CAMRA national chairman, said: “Despite our formal representations and extensive engagement with the Treasury, a workable solution to allow beer festivals, pubs and social clubs to make incidental takeaway draught sales has not been found.

“This is disappointing for licensees and consumers and especially designated drivers who like to take away a pint or two to enjoy responsibly at home.

“We will continue to campaign for a workable solution. Specialist bottle shops will be able to buy casks and kegs with the general duty rate paid on them to make takeaway sales, but most publicans – who the draught duty rate is designed to benefit – won’t be able to afford or accommodate extra draught containers just to make takeaway sales.”