New polling from YouGov reveals that 45% of pub-goers say they went to the pub less often in the past 12 months due to the rising cost of living.
The figures have been released by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, as it opens its flagship event, the Great British Beer Festival, at the NEC, in Birmingham.
“People want to support their local pubs, but the reality is, they’re being priced out,” said CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins.
“With lower disposable incomes and publicans being forced to put up prices through no fault of their own by rising running costs, for a lot of people a regular night out at the pub just isn’t affordable.
“This is a warning sign for the future of our locals. If people can’t afford to go, pubs can’t survive. But luckily, the Chancellor can use the autumn Budget to help fix this.”
He explained: “We are demanding the government use the upcoming autumn Budget to help make pubs more accessible: starting by rolling back on the disastrous hike in National Insurance contributions, cutting VAT for pubs just like they’re planning to do in Ireland, introducing significantly lower business rates bills for pubs and brewers, and cutting tax specifically on pints served in pubs.
“These measures are desperately needed to secure the future of our beloved locals, world-renowned breweries and to stem further price hikes for drinkers.”
