Thousands of pubs across the United Kingdom are facing closure as households are hit with a £10 charge for a pint of beer. According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), one pub per day is currently closing in England and Wales, and the UK has lost 2,000 pubs since 2020.
Cost of a Pint Reaches £10
The cost of a pint has reached £10 for the first time as the hospitality industry continues to struggle under tax increases implemented by the Labour Party government. Several high-end bars in London are now charging a tenner for a pint. For example, a pint of Moretti or Heineken at Stanley's rooftop bar in Mayfair costs £11, as reported by The Telegraph. Other bars in Mayfair offer similar prices.
The Connaught Hotel sells a 33cl bottle of Noam lager, Curios IPA, or non-alcoholic Lucky Saint for £10.50. Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), told the i: "If these cost pressures continue, prices will go up. It's not impossible to see an £8 or £9 pint in London before too long, perhaps £7 elsewhere."
Political Reactions
Nigel Farage previously wrote in The Sun: "Publicans desperately need our help. And we are going to give it to them. Because when pubs close, they stay closed. If we keep going as we are under the current Government, our historic ale houses risk becoming like red telephone boxes or abandoned shepherd's huts."
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "Despite recent important support from the Government and the many MPs across all political parties that champion pubs and brewers, voters clearly believe that there is still more to be done. Pubs are the soul of the community, create jobs, and, with a quarter of a million people joining our Long Live the Local campaign that supports the people behind the pint, including thousands of Londoners, it's no wonder people care about them so much. What the public want is a fair tax system for pubs, one that keeps business competitive and recognises their unique role as valuable spaces for communities across the country. With the local elections right around the corner, it's key for candidates to recognise just how important pubs are for so many and to back their local. We're calling on the Government to continue to work with us and deliver permanent business rates reform, lower employment costs, cut beer duty and VAT to save countless locals who are burdened with huge regulatory costs."
