University of Birmingham students joined our campaign to Call Time on Duty armed with our drinks coasters. After starting the day on the Edgbaston campus, the campaign soon moved and gained more momentum at one of Birmingham’s finest – The Old Joint Stock and Theatre pub.
Many were shocked to hear of the 79 per cent tax on a bottle of spirits, with Birmingham student and local girl Zoe Zapper exclaiming: ‘I think it’s shocking how much goes on taxes from our alcohol, I definitely think the public should be made more aware of how high this tax is’.
The same thought is echoed by final year politics student Ben Woodward, who argues that ‘an enormous part of the student experience is to able to socialise with friends’. He also warns that ‘the government is pricing the poorest students out of this opportunity’.
The day ended as a great success with many drinks coasters also distributed around the popular student town of Selly Oak. Those who attended vowed to do more about this unfair escalator.
Go to Call Time On Duty and send a letter to your local MP in calling time on duty and help bringing down the shocking duty on wine and spirits.