ACS

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has reacted to the Budget expressing disappointment at the action on business rates and yet more increases in duty on alcohol and tobacco products.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman: “Action on business rates is absolutely key to helping the recovery in high streets throughout the country but the proposal to extend small business rate relief will not go far enough. Many local shops operate from premises that are well above the thresholds that entitle them to the benefit the Chancellor has announced.

“He should have gone further to make the rate relief automatic for all those entitled and to increase the thresholds to ensure that more local shops would benefit.

Mr Lowman also commented on alcohol and tobacco duty: “Every penny increase in duty on alcohol and tobacco harms local shops and drives more people into the illegal black market.

“The World Health Organization acknowledges that high taxation policies like that pursued in the UK will lead to over half of the tobacco consumed here being obtained illegally and non-duty paid by the end of the decade. This means a major loss of income to the exchequer and a threat to thousands of legitimate businesses; it also means that objectives to reduce smoking in the population will be undermined. It is time for a full debate on the implications of the constant tobacco tax grab.