Rachel Reeves is facing mounting pressure to abandon any thoughts of upping sin taxes on booze and fags at the Budget amid fears for the future of pubs.
The Chancellor is reportedly considering hiking the price of a pint of beer or cider, and a shot of spirits, as well as increasing the levy on a packet of cigarettes.
Industry figures have voiced concerns about Labours attitude towards British boozers, amid talk of banning smoking outside them as well as inside.
At the partys conference in Liverpool this week senior figures also had to quickly quash a suggestion from a junior health minister that opening hours might be curtailed.
It comes as reports suggest that the Governments planned raid on wealthy non-doms will not yield any income for the Treasury because the super-rich will simply run away abroad.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: Rachel Reeves plan to hike beer duty will be a bitter blow for our nations brewers, pubs and beer drinkers.
After the Chancellors pre-election promise of a Five Point Plan for Pubs, it is impossible to see how this will be fulfilled if the price of a pint is increased by the Government.
The Chancellor is reportedly considering hiking the price of a pint of beer or cider, and a shot of spirits, as well as increasing the levy on a packet of cigarettes.
Industry figures have voiced concerns about Labours attitude towards British boozers, amid talk of banning smoking outside them as well as inside.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: Rachel Reeves plan to hike beer duty will be a bitter blow for our nations brewers, pubs and beer drinkers.
The cost of doing business has soared in recent years and, with potentially new punishing burdens, this tax increase is the last thing pubs and beer drinkers need. It makes it all the more vital that the Chancellor maintains the 75 per cent business rates relief.
Anything less will be a total betrayal of the great British pub that this government promised to protect, and the one million jobs that depend on them.
Reports suggest that the rate relief will be extended.
On Monday, public health and prevention minister Andrew Gwynne suggested tightening up on some of the hours of operation, according to The Telegraph, but the Department of Health and Social Care said it was categorically untrue to suggest it was considering changes to licensing policy.
Weve got a day left of the conference and if thats on the agenda, Im going to table an emergency resolution myself in order to make sure it doesnt happen, Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden told BBC Radio 4s Today programme at the time.
I think weve been clear about that overnight, the pubs a great part of the British tradition and weve got no plans to change the opening hours in that way.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster later told LBC: I dont think theres any plan to shut the pubs early. The pub is a great part of British life.
Ms McClarkin had previously criticised a plan to ban smoking in pub gardens, which she said could have a devastating impact on pubs who are already struggling with soaring energy prices and the cost of doing business.
According to leaked proposals seen by The Sun newspaper, the Government is set to ban smoking in some outdoor areas in a bid to improve public health.
Polling suggests a majority of Brits would back such a ban, but yesterday Health Secretary has called for a national debate about the prospect.
We definitely want to see smoking phased out in our country, we committed to that in our manifesto, Wes Streeting told Sky News.
We want to make sure this generation of children are the healthiest generation that ever lived and therefore they will never be able to legally buy cigarettes.
We are looking at a range of other measures to also help people who are currently smoking to quit and also to deal with the scourge of second-hand smoke and passive smoking, which is also harmful. Well be setting out our proposals on that shortly.
Asked if he will ban smoking outside pubs, he said: Look, thats one of the measures that Im considering, and Im up for a national debate on this issue.
We have got to do two things – reform the health service, but also reform public health, because we might be living longer, but were becoming sicker sooner and there is a heavy price being paid for that in our economy, our public finances and in our own health.