Nottingham’s Blue Monkey brewery is offering pints at Germany’s lower tax rates on Friday (9 October) in support of the Drop the Pint Day to highlight the potential benefits of a lower tax on pub beer ahead of the Budget.
The UK has one of the highest rates of tax on pub pints in Europe which is ten times as high as in Germany. The Drop the Pint Day will see pubs, bars and taprooms across the UK reducing their prices on one cask or keg of beer to German tax levels on Friday only. In support, their taproom is offering pints of Infinity at this lower price on a first come first served basis.
It is part of the Drop the Tap Tax campaign which asks beer drinkers to sign the petition and write to their MP ahead of the Budget on Wednesday 28 October when the Chancellor will make a decision on alcohol tax levels for next year.
The Chancellor has the power to cut tax specifically on beer that is sold in pubs via the hand pulls and keg taps. The so called Draught Relief is currently set at a 13.9% reduced rate. Independent brewers believe that boosting this could create jobs, help grow the economy and give a boost to pubs and breweries across the UK.
Ian Wesley from Blue Monkey Brewery said:
“The tax we pay on pub beer is way too high and one of the largest in Europe. The Chancellor has the power to Drop the Tap Tax in his Budget and help secure the future of our breweries and community pubs. To highlight the potential benefits of lower tax we’ll be offering pints at the much lower German tax rates on Friday so come and help us Drop the Pint and send a clear message to the Chancellor.”
The Drop the Tap Tax campaign is being led by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) that acts as the voice for independent beer in the UK and it runs until the Chancellor’s Budget on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Posted on 28 September 2026
