'Organisations representing football fans and beer drinkers have announced an alliance to campaign against plans to increase taxes on beer,' reports today's Guardian.

Okay...

Let's assume beer duty will go up in the so-called emergency Budget (which it won't).

And let's assume that VAT will be increased on 22 June, and that the increase will be instigated immediately (which it won't).

Ale would become more expensive, wouldn't it? How is that a bad thing from a political or economic standpoint?

If I was the chancellor and wanted to raise the price of beer, I'd do it during the World Cup, when the larger part of the nation - or, at least, of England in this tournament’s case - is on a (potentially) month-long bender. Which pie-eyed football fan is gonna notice that a pint of lager is suddenly 6p pricier?

And, let's face it, plenty of the malty stuff will be sold over the next month - more so perhaps than at Christmas even (as long as Capello's boys do the business).

That'll lead to mucho coin in the Government's coffers - and that's good thing for the country; not as good as seeing Steven Gerard lifting that FIFA trophy, but still good.

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