Is the Pint Glass Half Full Or Half Empty For the Pub Industry?

The latest budget report had pub landlords up in arms again with a further tax increase hitting the humble British pint. It's no secret that pubs are feeling the squeeze with less and less money being spent 'down the local' and the recession adding to financial pressures. The question is will the British pub industry fight back or will they become one of many lost English traditions?

Many publicans blame the decrease in prosperity for pubs on this government: taxes on alcohol and the smoking ban the main targets of the criticisms. I'd like to briefly explore these two factors.

Increased taxes on alcohol are making drinking a very expensive habit. Supermarkets are benefiting because people are replacing their increasingly expensive pint at the pub for a cheap 4-pack of lager in the weekly shop. Pubs simply can't afford to charge any less for their drinks because of other costs associated with running a pub. Chain pubs are keeping their heads above water because they have the safety net of a big company behind them: independent pubs don't have such a luxury.

The smoking ban is probably one of the most controversial pieces of legislation passed by this government in the last 10 years. The effect on the pub industry has been rather interesting. While some pubs have claimed that it's helped to boost their image as a safe, family-friendly environment, others have complained it's led to more and more people staying at home where they can smoke to their hearts (dis)content. I've welcomed being able to go to the pub without coming up how stinking of smoke, but for a lot of regular pub-goers, smoking was part of the experience.

Various social and economic changes would have changed the pub industry inevitably. Increased mobility means the 'local' pub doesn't get regular trade without being as good as the pub a few miles away. However, this should have just weeded out the 'bad' pubs, and they aren't the only ones going under.

Just as important as why the pub industry is the effect it's having. This ranges from the effect on the livelihoods of publicans, the detrimental effect on the 'binge drinking' culture and the loss of traditional hubs of the community.

It would be a sad sight if pub's continued to close at their current rate. What pubs really need is the support and custom of the communities they are a part of - a call to arms to beer and wine lovers throughout the village perhaps - "all hands to the pumps!" On that note - I'm off for a pint.