Getting the ‘island feeling’ back
THE chances of a reduction in alcohol duty – as called for by the Guernsey Hospitality Association – making much impact on the island’s night-time economy and central St Peter Port must be fairly slim, both in the prospect of securing that concession from the States, and in having much impact on boosting crowds in our establishments.
Though the proposal, about to be debated in Jersey, to introduce ‘tap relief’ does seem to have something going for it. It would be interesting to see the impact on the exchequer, which currently takes in some £18m. a year on alcohol duty, against the potential boost that tap relief could have for local hospitality venues.
The idea is to introduce a separate rate of duty on alcohol sold from ‘large containers’ in bars, restaurants and hotels to enhance their competitiveness as against drinking at home – though the huge price differential currently in place is a challenge that a few pence off a pint is unlikely to be able to overcome.
But Jersey says the move will ‘foster a thriving hospitality industry, which is the cornerstone of Jersey’s economy and island life’.
That’s an important point. When licensees talk of their disappointment about today’s night-time in town and talk about ‘getting that island feeling back’, we all know what they’re talking about, the good nights out we had in a bustling town, whether that be decades or just years ago, and the impact that tourists can have on hustle and bustle.