THE VOICE OF BREWERS & PUBS
Influencing policy, informing debate, and shaping the future of the UK’s brewing and pub sector.
We represent brewers AND PUBS
Offering insight and policy expertise to government, political stakeholders, and the media to deepen understanding of the sector’s opportunities and challenges, and to shape the fiscal and policy framework needed for a thriving UK brewing and pub sector.
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Beer and pub sector supports almost 1 million jobs and delivers £37.8bn to UK economy
Sector’s economic footprint felt in every region, with each generating, on average, £3.2 billion in GVA and supporting, on average, of 81,800 jobs.
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Pubs as Social Infrastructure
Pubs are more than venues for alcohol. This report demonstrates how these embedded social institutions generate measurable wellbeing benefits for millions of people.
A Pint Under Pressure
The average pint in Britain now costs £5.01, but only a small fraction remains with the pub. Tax alone accounts for around £1 in every £3 spent in the pub, making brewing and pubs one of the most highly taxed business sectors in the UK. Rising wage costs, higher alcohol duty, energy bills, packaging charges and other regulatory costs continue to add pressure. After meeting these costs, the publican keeps just 12p on average from each pint sold, underlining the crushing pressures the sector is grappling with.
A Sector at a Crossroads
The steady decline in pub numbers is a warning sign for the long term health of the sector. Pubs are at the heart of communities, supporting local jobs, economic activity and tourism, yet continued cost pressures are making it harder for businesses to invest and plan for the future. Every closure represents the loss of a valued community place, weakens local high streets and hurts the fantastic workers who are the backbone of our sector.
The Cost in Every Bottle
We estimate the cost of EPR for beer in glass bottles to be approximately £124m per year. This is around 4p for a 330ml bottle of beer, and 6p for a 500ml one. This increase would wipe out any profit margin and could lead to further rises in price
An Industry Worth Backing
The brewing and pub sector supports almost one million jobs from grain to glass across the entirety of the UK as shown below, providing career opportunities and flexible employment. With around 45,000 pubs and 1,800 breweries spanning every constituency, the sector underpins local economies, supports tourism and serves as a vital part of community life. Together, brewers and pubs contribute £37.8 billion to the economy and generate £16.7 billion in tax revenues.
A thriving brewing and pub sector has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits, with just 2% annual growth capable of creating 100,000 jobs, generating more than £3 billion in economic activity and delivering an additional £1.8 billion in tax revenues.
What the BBPA is doing about it
From business rates to energy costs and regulation, the BBPA has been at the forefront of efforts to ease pressures on the sector and unlock growth. In his first week, recognising the wider importance of pubs to communities and high streets, Andy Burnham, announced a further 20% cut to pub business rates from 2027/8, building on the 15% relief and subsequent freezes in January 2026 for the next three years. The BBPA also successfully campaigned for a freeze in beer duty, helping to protect brewers from additional cost increases and supporting investment across the UK’s brewing sector.
Find out more about the BBPA’s work to support the industry, shape policy and drive growth, and learn how you can help make the case for a thriving pub and brewing sector.
BBPA Disability Awareness Primer Course
In partnership with Tourism for All we have created an online disability awareness training. Tourism for All is a national charity and the voice of accessible tourism and travel in the UK.
Click here to register for the free course.
Once you’ve registered, click here to log in to the BBPA training area. Upon completing the course you will receive a certificate.
Pubs are places where everyone is welcome. It’s where family, friends and colleagues come together and where tourists to this country feel they will see the true, welcoming Britain. But sometimes, without realising it, we put up barriers to that welcome, especially for those who are disabled or less mobile. If a customer can’t access a pub, bar or restaurant then they will go elsewhere. That means that all their family, friends and colleagues will go elsewhere as well. Not only is the business lost but the customer’s experience is zero or even negative.
You will often be the first representative of your business that disabled customers will meet and that gives you a great opportunity, and a great responsibility, to make disabled customers, and all customers, feel comfortable and welcome.
We know that disabled customers tend to come back to establishments where they have had good experiences and to recommend them to others. So, by completing this course and following the tips we provide, you will not only be helping your disabled customers to have a great time, but helping to grow your whole business.
