Proactive Investors - At 8.00 pm tonight the Euros will get underway as hosts Germany take on Scotland, but those watching from the UK while sipping a pint may be paying more duty on their beer than other countries.
That's because Britain charges four times more on duty than the European average and a dozen times more than Germany, reports from the Times revealed.
Scottish punters will have to pay 54.2p in duty, significantly more than the 4.6p paid in the host country, while England fans, who face the same 54.2p surcharge, will be paying more than fans of its first opponent Serbia, which add on an extra 12.7p.
Leading industry body the British Beer and Pub Association said it was writing to the country's top politicians in a bid to receive "fair recognition" of the industry's value.
“[It is] imperative that the next government provides a sustainable and proportionate fiscal and regulatory framework," the BBPA said.
Beer duty rates have been frozen at the same level since 2020 due to government plans to support the industry through the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis and are set to stay the same until February 2025.
The BBPA hopes once the freeze is lifted the government will start to lower duty, bringing it closer to the European norm.
In the letter, the organisation also calls for a reduction in business rates and the scrapping of VAT on non-alcoholic drinks and food.
Bosses at Greene King (LON:GNK), Fuller's, Stonegate, Wetherspoons (LON:JDW), Diageo (LON:DGE) and other hospitality groups have all signed the letter.