May Day call for British pub

Ahead of this weekend's May Day bank holiday the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has urged the Great British public to use their pub or lose it.

The ALMR predicts that six pubs will close over the long weekend due to the industry's current woes of rising alcohol taxes and dwindling customer numbers due to the wide-spread availability of cheap supermarket booze.

Nick Bish, chief executive at the ALMR said: "The May Day bank holiday traditionally sees the British pub come into full bloom. It is the start of the summer season when community pubs are prepared, this year like never before, to be the destination of choice for families and friends to enjoy beer gardens, barbeques and good company.

"These occasions as we know them are under threat," he added.

"We invite the Great British public to do everything it can to support the Great British pub, starting this weekend. Your pub needs a May Day rescue mission before it's too late."

Last week the ALMR warned that a rise in the minimum wage rate to compensate younger workers hit by the removal of the 10p tax rate, proposed by Chancellor Alastair Darling, would "maximise the number of pubs going out of business".

Raising minimum wage won't solve 10p tax row >>

Pub industry furious over rise in alcohol duty >>

Local boozers taking a battering as alcohol sales slide >>

By Christopher Walton

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