Alistair Darling's budget

[herthab]

So we've had a budget and they've increased tax on booze, fags and fuel?

Fuck me. Didn't see that coming..............

[Dazzza]

What is involved in 'doing a Pringles'?

Pair of scissors, rodent and a friend.

It does grate with me that successive Governments constantly raise charges on alcohol and smokes to make up the shortfall in other areas.  It’s become so frequent an increase is accepted as the norm and a freeze is seen as a “one off” positive reflection of a healthy economy.

I can understand the hike on the snouts.  They’re a drain on public health and there should be every incentive for people to quit, myself included.  I’m only a social smoker these days but I can proudly say I haven’t bought a packet of tabs and paid duty in over three years.  God bless the black market.

Increases in beer is murdering the pubs.  In a few years all we’ll be left with is plastic novelty bars straight out of the bar equivalent of Kay’s catalogue all charging ridiculous prices.  Perhaps it’s time someone set up a giant bar just far enough out into International water to avoid tax.

[Sippo]

He knows he can put the tax up on those things, because people need their cars, they like to drink and like to smoke. He knows whatever he puts on it people will still do it.

It'll be £4 a pint soon!!

[LucienSanchez]

£3.80 for a Budvar in the Beehive on Saturday. I only had the one...

Oh, what is the reasoning by adding so much extra duty on cider compared to beer? Because it's getting more popular and summer is on the way?

[Batch]

presumably cider was taxed less than beer, so this brings them more in line

[Arriba]

Still want Labour out.

and the alternative is so much better.

your employer will be no more,thats for sure if the tories get in.

[suttonred]

Where's the modern day Wat Tyler when you need him?

[Peter Venkman]

convince me the tories will be better Ralphy. I'm not saying keep Labour, cos they're shite, but they're all as shite as each other.

Spot on.

[Simon Pieman]

The thing that fucks me off about any government is the endless blame they place on the other party. Darling was still gibbering on about the Tories doing this that and the other 15 years ago. No doubt if Labour weren't in power and were the opposition it would be vice versa.

I couldn't give a crap what happened over three terms ago, I'd quite like to hear about the heres and nows more. Besides, if the country was so fucked before, why has Labour spent its way into oblivion? It's just distraction tactics to deflect from their own incompetencies.

[STFC_Gazza]

Labour OUT!

Yeah Labour out, you think things are bad now wait until the Tories get in, the words feed the rich, starve the poor come to mind.

[herthab]

Any political party who achieves contol is on a hiding to nothing.

The people in charge have to make tough decisions and those decisions are usually disliked by some part of society.

Still, gives us something to moan about, doesn't it?

[herthab]

Yeah Labour out, you think things are bad now wait until the Tories get in, the words feed the rich, starve the poor come to mind.

If you really think there is a vast difference between the two of them, then you haven't really been paying attention for the last 20 years Gazza.

[STFC_Gazza]

So we've had a budget and they've increased tax on booze, fags and fuel?

Fuck me. Didn't see that coming..............

For sure saw it coming, of course. People say that "we dont talk anymore" the pub used to be a meeting point to socialise. Some would blame perhaps email, internet, mobile phones etc but a decent local can be a focal point for any community. There are very few left now thanks to constant increases.

Over 2 years booze has gone up by 20%, brought in the smoking ban and then the government says they want to help save the british pub. How do they plan on doing this with putting prices etc up to stupid prices. One way perhaps is banning cheap booze in supermarkets. I'm not say ban booze in supermarkets all togehter just bring it in line wtih booze in the pub etc so the market is fair again.

Since 2008, beer tax has increased by an eye-watering 26 per cent – a £761 million tax rise - and we have seen the loss of 4,000 pubs and over 40,000 jobs up and down the country. Beer sales are down £650m in the last year alone.

This is a further tax raid on responsible beer drinkers and community pubs. It is however a tax raid that will yield little extra money for the Government as any extra beer duty will be outweighed by job losses, pub closures and reduced business taxes.

[LucienSanchez]

If they put beer in supermarkets up to pub prices, no one would buy it. Of course with your job in mind you have a vested interest in pub beer sales, but that idea is stupid. I love the pub as much as the next man, but i also appreciate a slab of beers from Asda so i can enjoy an ale with my mates without having to pay over £3 for every drink i have.

[jonny72]

Over 2 years booze has gone up by 20%, brought in the smoking ban and then the government says they want to help save the british pub. How do they plan on doing this with putting prices etc up to stupid prices. One way perhaps is banning cheap booze in supermarkets. I'm not say ban booze in supermarkets all togehter just bring it in line wtih booze in the pub etc so the market is fair again.

No one, least of all the Government or taxes, has forced pubs in to charging £3 for a bottle of beer that costs 60p in the supermarkets. There are plenty of things pubs can do to survive and they've only got themselves to blame if they don't.