On Friday 9 October 2026, the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) listed 65 UK pubs, bars and taprooms set to take part in Drop the Pint Day.
The campaign invited participating venues to offer one cask or keg beer at prices reflecting Germany’s lower beer duty rates, highlighting differences in the tax burden on beer producers.
The initiative aimed to draw attention to beer duty and its impact on independent breweries and hospitality businesses.
Who Ran Drop the Pint Day, and Why
The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates, the UK trade body for independent brewers, organised Drop the Pint Day. The event was part of its Drop the Tap Tax campaign, launched in early September 2026.
The initiative aimed to highlight how lower beer duty could benefit pubs, breweries and the wider hospitality sector. SIBA used the campaign to draw attention to differences between UK beer duty vs Germany beer taxation ahead of the October Budget.
SIBA chief executive Andy Slee quotes, “Our pubs and breweries are tapped out, and we lost 137 breweries last year and two pubs a day were closing at the beginning of this year.”
The wider campaign encourages beer drinkers to sign a petition at droptaptax.com and contact their MPs to support lower beer duty.
How the Drop the Pint Day Pricing Worked
For Drop the Pint Day, participating venues reduced the price of one selected cask or keg beer to reflect German beer duty levels on Friday 9 October only. The offers operated on a first-come, first-served basis, giving customers a limited opportunity to buy selected beers at the campaign price.
According to SIBA, Germany’s headline beer duty rate equated to around 5p per pint, compared with 55p in the UK. The trade body described UK duty as roughly ten times higher.
However, SIBA’s announcement did not explain how individual venues calculated their selling prices or provide a price list, so customers could not compare specific offers across locations.
The 65 participating venues covered the UK, including:
- Orbit Beer’s Taproom and Hammerton Tap in London
- Hobsons Brewery Taproom in the Midlands
- Abbeydale Beerworks in Sheffield
- Bullhouse East in Belfast
The UK Beer Duty Debate Ahead of the Budget
The UK’s beer duty debate centres on how taxation affects pubs, independent breweries and local supply chains ahead of the 28 October 2026 Budget. The main issue is Draught Relief, which reduces duty on beer served through handpulls and keg taps. SIBA puts the current relief at 13.9% and is calling for an increase to 30% or more.
SIBA-commissioned modelling from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) estimated that raising relief to 30% could support 3,403 jobs and add £137 million in gross value added (GVA).
At 50%, the estimates rise to 7,663 jobs and approximately £310 million in GVA. These figures represent projected outcomes, not confirmed results.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has outlined separate Budget requests, including a beer duty freeze, greater draught relief, business rates reform and measures to address employment costs.
SIBA chairman Anthony Hughes adds that seven in ten pints from independent producers sell at taprooms or pubs within 40 miles, while beer accounts for around 60% of pub drinks sales.
Drop the Tap Tax Campaign: How to Get Involved Before 28 October
Although Drop the Pint Day ended on 9 October, SIBA’s Drop the Tap Tax campaign continues until the Budget on 28 October 2026.
Again, beer drinkers can support the initiative by signing the petition at droptaptax.com and asking their MPs to back changes to beer duty. Pubs, breweries and hospitality businesses can download campaign posters and raise awareness through their channels using #DropTapTax.
Venues interested in joining future SIBA activities can contact the trade body directly to explore opportunities to participate.
The Chancellor’s Budget announcement on 28 October will reveal whether the government plans to change Draught Relief.
The Beer Post will report on the outcome and its implications for the brewing and hospitality sectors.
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