The Campaign For Real Ales (CAMRA) is reporting over 300 pubs closing since Sept 2011 because of crippling beer taxes. This works out to roughly 12 per week, so CAMRA is petitioning Parliament to debate these taxes, but it needs 100,000 signatures and still only has roughly 33,000. From The Telegraph:
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said 300 independent pubs called last orders for the final time between September and March, denying many rural and suburban communities of their community watering hole.
Although the double-dip recession has hit most consumer-facing businesses hard, CAMRA argues that pubs have been saddled with the extra burden of an inflation-busting 42pc jump in beer duty since 2008.
The West Midlands and Lancashire are among the counties hardest hit by the demise of the community pub, the research suggests. High streets, which are heavily populated by chain pubs, have fared better.
CAMRA is hoping to force a debate in Parliament over the plight of one of Britain's oldest and best loved institutions.
It has aiming to attract 100,000 signatures to an e-petition, which would trigger a Parliamentary debate.
The campaign so far has the backing of 33,000 drinkers. Full details here.
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