In the lead-up to March's Budget report, drinks industry trade bodies are calling on chancellor George Osborne to cut beer duty.

This is the fourth year in a row that bosses of the Campaign for Real Ale, the British Beer & Pub Association and the Society of Independent Brewers have written to MPs asking them to make this change, reports Food Manufacture.

According to these groups, the previous one penny cut saw the creation of 19,000 jobs in the sector.

Similarly it resulted in additional investment in the industry, which totalled £1 billion, a markedly improved figure.

Overall, the various sectors affected by the beer duty translate to nearly 900,000 jobs and contribute £22 billion towards the UK economy.

An Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled by MP Nigel Evans said that a further cut to beer duty would be likely to secure more jobs in the industry and would lower the cost of living. This EDM currently has the support of 27 members of parliament; this number looks set to rise as the Budget in March draws nearer.