The pub and brewing industries have been hit by the persistent fall in beer sales as more people drink at home, the smoking ban and pub closures, which reached 2,300 last year.
The last Government increased alcohol duties by 2pc above inflation, a measure which has not been reversed, and the industry expects to suffer when VAT goes up from 17.5pc to 20pc in January.
The BBPA says beer pays an unfairly high level of tax, at around 42p per unit of alcohol compared with 33p for cider and 37p for vodka. Beer sales generate about £7bn in tax revenues.