- Scottish fans will pay 54p beer duty on their pint, which is the second highest of any of their Group C competitors.
- The World Cup group stages could bring in an additional £7m for Scotland’s pubs, as over one million extra pints could be poured for fans across the nation.
- The SBPA is calling for a cut to beer duty to help struggling pubs retain their place as the home of live sport.
New analysis from the British Beer and Pub Association finds that Scottish fans will pay the second-highest rate of beer duty in their group during the World Cup at 54p a pint.
Scotland sits behind Morocco where the tax on beer is levied at 90p a pint, leagues above Haiti (30p per pint) and Brazil (16.2p per pint).
Almost 1.5 million extra pints could be poured in Scotland during the Group stages, bringing in an additional £7m in revenue for Scottish pubs.
The trade association says that, should Scotland make it all the way to the final, it could mean an additional revenue bounce of £28 million for Scottish pubs, with venues benefitting from the flexibility shown by the majority of local Licensing Boards.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, said: “The World Cup will be an important boost for Scotland’s pubs and brewers, bringing fans together in the nation’s living room.
“You simply cannot beat the cheers from a packed pub, a perfectly poured pint in hand, and the electric atmosphere as matches unfold.
“Pubs are the best places for community spirit and celebration, and I’d urge everyone to support their local this summer and head to the pub to watch the match and make memories.
“Government can further support our pubs and brewers by cutting beer duty to the European average so we can keep a pint affordable for all.”
Despite the predicted World Cup windfall, pubs across the country continue to navigate eye-watering employment costs, energy prices and some of the highest beer duty rates in Europe.
The SBPA are committed to working with Government to establish a long-term plan to deliver permanently lower bills, cutting beer duty and VAT, and reducing the regulatory burden pubs face.