Pubs seek cheer from Chancellor over taxes A spokesman for Punch Taverns slammed the tax burden on pubs as "disproportionate and onerous." "We hope that, with the Budget approaching, the Government will take real tangible steps to practically help the British pub, which would lead to increased employment into the sector and more investment into pubs," he added. Brewers and pub companies contribute £19bn towards UK GDP and support almost one million jobs, according to the British Beer and Pub Association. However, since 2008, more than 5,800 pubs have been forced to shut their doors as high rates of beer duty and cheap supermarket prices encourage more Britons to drink at home. Brewers and pub companies are also pressing for a freeze in the so-called "beer duty escalator" at next week's Budget. The escalator, which raises duty by 2pc above the retail prices index of inflation every year, was introduced in 2008. Since then, beer duty has increased by 42pc and taxes now account for about a third of the cost of a pint. Wetherspoon revealed yesterday that it paid 11 times its profit in tax during the first half of the year. The group, which has 870 pubs and employs more than 23,000, faced a total tax bill of £273.5m in the six months to Jan 27 - an increase of £23.4m compared with the same period in 2012. The company blamed the high tax burden and other rising costs such as utilities and food prices for a 2pc dip in operating profit to £52.1m during the six months to Jan 27, although like for like sales rose 6.9pc as it refused to increase prices. Wetherspoon claimed that if it had been taxed on the same basis as supermarkets, it would have paid £40.7m less, which could have been invested in reducing prices and potentially creating jobs. About half of the beer consumed in the UK is now drunk in pubs. About 30 years ago, 90pc of beer was drunk in pubs, where the industry argues consumption can be better controlled.