Cider Drinking Bulls Hit by Darling Tax Hike

Herefordshire Cider Makers have been dealt a strong blow by chancellor Alistair Darling who proposed a rise in the duty on the drink in his budget earlier this week.

It is well known that a number of Hereford United supporters enjoy a glass or two of scrumpy and they will be penalised by the tax rise.

Hardest hit will be the stronger varieties which are over 7.5% proof which could see the tax rise on them from around 50p a litre to over £2. Less strong varieties will increase by between 5p and 10p a litre.

However the industry, which employs a number of Hereford United supporters, has launched a number of initiatives against the proposed increases.

One is to designate next Sunday as Cider Sunday. It is the last day before the price of a pint will rise by up to 20p a pint.

Another already started is a Downing Street petition launched and a third is a Facebook campaign to get the Worzel's classic 'I am a Cider Drinker' to number one in protest.

Westons Cider commercial manager Roger Jackson said he was “extremely disappointed” with the tax increase.

"While the increases in duty have hit all forms of alcohol, cider and perry have clearly been singled out. This could be devastating for the cider industry and to our already fragile rural economy," Jackson told the Worcester News.

"In the last few years, cider has been a great success story. The investment and innovation in the industry as a whole has doubled the value of the cider market and doubled the contribution we have made to government; all that is now at risk."

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