OUR Buy Local campaign, launched a week ago, is as much about supporting traditional pubs as it is about backing butchers or bakers.

The local pub is dying a slow death. Town and city centre superpubs, cheap alcohol available in supermarkets, the smoking ban, and a change in society that sees more people drinking and entertaining at home are all factors in the demise of the traditional boozer.

The ‘local’ has always been a central part of our communities. But it is in danger of going the same way as many post offices and general stores.

A reduction in the number of pubs is inevitable. We support the smoking ban but we recognise it has added to the woes of some pubs – most likely those that were struggling already.

A change in lifestyles is difficult to turn around – but the cheap beer and wine in supermarkets makes it far more attractive for people to drink at home in these tough economic times.

The big pub chains are surviving because they cater for a mass audience of younger drinkers, families or sports fans.

It is the smaller, more traditional pubs that are dying. And little is being done to help them.

The Government hammered another nail in their coffin last week with another increase in alcohol duty.

We think there is an argument for the Treasury treating smaller pubs, particularly free houses and those that specialise in real ale, differently from the chains and the supermarkets.

Yes, pubs have to adapt to changing times. But the Government also has a responsibility to a sector that is so important to many towns and villages.

  • Click the following link to download your own printable poster - buylocal_poster.pdf
  • Click here to return to the main Buy Local page.

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