Two thousand of the nation’s much-loved pubs are facing last orders, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has warned as it calls on the government to extend a lifeline to the sector.
The stark message came as the BBPA cited research from Oxford Economics which estimates on-trade beer sales will decline by 9% in 2023/4, meaning 288mln fewer pints being poured and 25,000 potential job losses in pubs and the wider industry.
The BBPA called on the government to use the Spring Budget to “deliver a plan for sustainable growth with fair, modernised tax rates and a focus on skills and training needed to ensure pubs and breweries can thrive”.
It asked chancellor Jeremy Hunt to freeze duty rates, implement a significant increase in the discount for draft beer sold in pubs and introduce the previously announced reduced rate for lower-strength beers from 1 August.
The BBPA also highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the industry from ongoing soaring energy costs.
Chief executive of the BBPA, Emma McClarkin, described the situation as “a make-or-break moment to save our locals and breweries”.