MP Rebecca Pow has welcomed a tax cut which will help many rural public houses to continue trading through the cost of living crisis.

Tax on the pints pulled in more than 38,000 pubs across the UK fell this week as Government alcohol duty changes came into effect.

It meant the duty paid on drinks on draught in a pub would now be up to 11p lower than in supermarkets.

The ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee’ announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget gave a pledge that pubs would always pay less alcohol duty than supermarkets going forward.

A new tax relief to encourage small producers to make new drinks has also been introduced.

Ms Pow, who represents the Wellington and Wiveliscombe areas, said the changes would benefit pubs such as The New Inn, in Halse, the White Horse Inn, in Bradford on Tone, and the Holman Clavel Inn, on the Blackdown Hills.

She said: “Our pubs in our urban areas, but especially in our in villages, play a vital role supporting not only the economy but our local community, acting as key meeting places for many.

“So, I welcome the ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee’ which pledges that the duty pubs and bars pay on these drinks will always be less than applied by retailers.

“This is designed to help them compete on a level playing field so that they can continue to thrive at the heart of our communities.

“The Government has taken advantage of Brexit to simplify the duty system which now also sees drinks taxed by strength for the first time, and a new relief named ‘Small Producer Relief’ to help small businesses and start-ups create new drinks, innovate, and grow.

“We have many craft drinks businesses here and this should help them, as well as cider makers, with a lower rate of duty now in effect on a range of different ciders.

“As a Parliamentary cider champion I am delighted that our cider industry is being heard, something I have worked hard on.”