The government’s alcohol-duty reform came into force today, which could only mean one thing: the customary press pictures of politicians pulling pints. Earlier on today, the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ‘popped to the local’ Two Chairmen in Westminster, while the famously teetotal Prime Minister went to a London beer festival to mark the change in alcohol duty.
Mr S wonders though if these PR pub visits may soon become a thing of the past – after the PM failed to get the reception he was presumably hoping for.
As Sunak pulled a pint of Black Dub stout at the festival, the Prime Minister was heckled by an onlooker, who shouted ‘Oh the irony that you’re raising alcohol duty on the day that you’re pulling a pint.’ Awkward…
Another man then shouted, in a reference to Sunak’s favourite drink, ‘Prime minister, it’s not Coca Cola!’ To be fair to Sunak, despite the taunting he still emerged with what seemed to be an adequate looking pint.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in