Sales of new Category C (AWP) machines into the British market up to and including September of this year totaled 15,790, but this figure, we understand, includes "greened" machines - analogue models that were rebuilt.
Source: Joseph Mischyshyn
The figure also includes 5,000 digital machines, mainly supplied by the two manufacturing groups in the UK, Gauselmann and Novomatic.
The data comes at a time when British pubs - the major source of locations for AWPs - are under pressure, with as many as 15 venues closing each week, according to the British Beer and Pub Association. The organisation is calling for a cut of one penny in Beer Duty as the country’s Chancellor finalises his plans for the annual Budget due to be presented on November 22.
A cut in duty, says the association, will help to save pubs from closing. It reports that sales of beer in pubs, bars and restaurants has fallen by the largest margin in five years. The BPA reports that increased business taxation and competition from beer sales in supermarkets to be consumed at home was hitting sales in pubs. Beer Duty was raised last March by 2p a pint - the first rise in five years.
Brigid Simmonds, CEO of the BPA, said: “When the government was cutting or freezing Beer Duty from 2013-15 sales of British beer stabilised after years of decline. Beer has gone up 39 per cent in tax in the past 10 years and that is 14 times higher than in Germany.”
The BPA reports that there are more breweries in the UK now, but the number of pubs is down 17 per cent since 1996. This reflects the trend to drink at home.
