Pubs closing at rate of 18 per week, says Camra
The number of pubs closing has increased by up to 50%, according to the latest pub tracker results from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).
The new figures reveal that 18 pubs now close across the country each week - up from 12 a week from September 2011 to March 2012 - taking the total number of closures to 5,800 since the introduction of the Beer Duty Escalator in 2008.
The news comes ahead of today's Parliamentary debate on the Beer Duty Escalator - following the e-petition that gained more than 100,000 signatures - which called for a review of its social and economic impact before the next election.
Mike Benner, Camra chief executive, said: "As today's pub closure figures show, the future of Britain's valued community pubs remains in jeopardy. With pubs finding it ever harder to maintain consistent footfall at a time when prices are ever increasing, it is only hoped that Parliament will today take the first steps by voting to review punitive taxation policies on Britain's national drink.'
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By Janet Harmer
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