The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has claimed that around 30,000 new jobs would be created if the government implements a "fairer system" of duty on low-strength drinks such as beer.

A submission by the trade organisation as part of the government's review of alcohol taxation has included research conducted by Oxford Economics, which found that the current tax system "penalises" beer drinkers. According to the BBPA's submission, low-strength alcoholic drinks such as beer are taxed more than stronger products, including vodka, gin and cider - a system that it said needs to be rebalanced.

The organisation estimates that around 30,000 new jobs would be created if the government adopted a tax structure similar to Ireland's, which applies an increasing level of tax to alcoholic drinks based on its strength. BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "The new government now has a great opportunity to bring fairness into our duty system - with huge potential benefits for the Treasury and the UK economy.

"We've had many years of duty changes that have favoured other categories of drink - yet taxing beer fairly would create thousands of new jobs, and substantial extra tax revenues."