Bruce backs calls to Save our Pubs
December 8, 2008 12:00 PM
Mr Bruce has called for Government action to safeguard those responsible pubs which act as social hubs in local communities and are under threat of closure
Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce has backed a campaign to 'Save our Pub' following the announcement that further increases in beer duty are likely to further impact on the pub trade.
The campaign which is being led by the British Beer Pub Association and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), estimates that a third of a price of a pint now goes in tax and that this has led to a 40-year low in the sales of beer at pubs. In turn this is leading to a closure rate of five pubs a day across the UK.
Following the Pre-Budget Report announcement, the Campaign also claims that on top of the big duty rise in March the planned increases due to be imposed in each of the next four years means that by 2012:
• Beer tax is set to rise by a further 40%
• At least 7,500 more pubs are set to close
• More that 40,000 jobs are likely to be lost
In noting the role that the local pub often plays in rural communities as a social hub Mr Bruce said:
"Pubs play an important and traditional role in communities across Gordon as a place where people can meet up and socialise; they are also an essential part of promoting a more responsible drinking culture. These recent changes are likely to force more people out of pubs and more pubs out of business. That's why I believe that further taxation and over-regulation of the industry should be re-considered."
ENDS
• Mr Bruce is pictured at the House of Commons 'local', the Westminster Arms at the launch of the national campaign
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