Tue 5th Aug 2014 - TCG pledges to cut prices on Tax Equality Day TCG pledges to cut prices on Tax Equality Day: Managed pub and bar operator TCG has pledged to support Tax Equality Day on Wednesday 24 September. All 69 of the company’s sites will take part, by cutting the price of food and drink by 7.5% on the day. TCG supported the first Tax Equality Day last September and is once again getting behind the event with posters, leaflets and staff in all pubs and bars explaining the campaign to customers. The aim is to raise awareness of the high rate of VAT paid on food and drink in pubs, compared to the near-zero rate paid by supermarkets. TCG chief operating officer Nigel Wright said: “The current 20% VAT rate continues to hit the hospitality industry hard. By taking part in Tax Equality Day, we’re able to take the key messages about the VAT campaign to customers across our diverse estate, from our world famous Tattershall Castle floating pub on the Thames, to city centre bars and local pubs. Our industry is a large employer, particularly of young people, and a major contributor to the Treasury. We think it’s fair to ask the Government to show support for pubs and bars, especially since projections show the cut in VAT revenue would be balanced by increased taxes generated by higher levels of trade and more jobs in the sector.” Meanwhile, Whiting & Hammond founder Brian Whiting has set out the reasons why his company will be supporting Tax Equality Day in an open letter to his customers, which appears in the latest edition of his in-house magazine. He states: “The difference that currently exists between the vat treatment of supermarket sales compared to sales of food and beverages in pubs, restaurants and hotels is simply unfair and something has to be done about it. Supermarkets have the audacity to brand a selection of their products as “Gastro Pub Style” in direct competition to us. Alongside this, they run campaigns encouraging their customers to eat in for £10 as opposed to dining out where they have the additional 20% VAT on their bill. Whiting & Hammond is a group of eight pubs that has been in business for 11 years. From a standing start we now employ 337 staff and over the last 12 months have paid £1,160,374 in VAT alone. If a percentage of this huge figure was freed up, we would definitely look to open up additional sites, thus creating more jobs, which in turn would support the local community.”